To be fair - there are statistics about the truck driving industry that point to improved overall safety with regard to drivers and their rigs. Consider the following information.
*According to government reports - the professional truck driver is actually one of the safest on the roads today.
While the typical American may put 15,000 miles on the vehicles each year while behind the wheel - the semi-truck driver averages around 130,000 miles annually. Yet semi-truck accidents account for only 4% of collisions each year.
*Other reports show that in the case of semi-truck and auto accidents -a whopping 71% of them are the fault of the automobile driver and not that of the 18 wheeler.
Common automobile driver errors include such things as 'cutting off the semi-truck driver', failing to maintain a safe distance either in front of or behind a rig - and in the event of a quick stop being unable to avoid a collision, and engaging in distracted driving behaviors that prevent automobile drivers from being fully aware of the traffic around them.
*Finally, a multitude of government agencies are imposing greater safety regulations and restrictions on both semi-truck drivers and the companies they represent - as well as the trucking industry as a whole.
Certainly no one in the industry is pleased with these added layers of requirements that translate into dollars - but many agree that safety should be the first concern of a semi-truck driver on the open road.
If you are interested in learning more about semi-truck regulations visit www.nhtsa.gov
Greg Baumgartner is a Texas big rig accident lawyer and the founder of the Baumgartner law firm, which is dedicated to helping personal injury victims seek civil justice. If you would like to speak with a Houston 18 wheeler accident lawyer call the Baumgartner firm.
