The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) released the results of its Roadcheck 2011 recently, leaving the public with both good and bad news about the state of commercial motor carrier safety. According to the report, 2011 revealed the lowest out-of-service rates since the program began in 1988. However, the three-day event also uncovered an overwhelming amount of driver violations involving hours-of-service regulations, which are designed to reduce the amount of truck accidents caused by fatigued drivers.
While the majority of the truck drivers passed the inspection, 53% of those who were pulled out of service were found to have violated the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA)’s hours-of-service rule, staying on the road too long and keeping inaccurate logs in the name of making a quick delivery. The longer any truck is out on the road, the higher the risk of an accident, which can cause serious injury and death.
The FMCSA is currently considering rule changes that would further reduce driver hours and require that electronic on-board recorders be installed in specific types of commercial trucks, preventing false logs from being kept.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a truck accident caused by a fatigued driver, you may be entitled to compensation. Contact an experienced truck accident attorney in your area today to schedule your initial consultation.
