People in the Ponca City area are probably aware of the dangers of texting and driving or talking on a cellular phone while driving. Lawmakers in most states have at least tried to attack this problem through legislative proposals. In addition, public service announcements and other advertising campaigns warn people to stay off their phones while driving.
Although the age of smart phones has undoubtedly created new kinds of distractions for drivers, the problem of distracted driving is not a new phenomenon. For many years before smart phones existed, distracted driving was still a problem. People in passenger vehicles may be prone to instances of distracted driving, but does it also occur amongst truck drivers and, if so, how?
Distracted driving can come in many different varieties, including people who eat and drive, play with the radio instead of looking at the road, talk to passengers while driving or drive while drowsy. Even though truck drivers are professional drivers, they are no different from other people when it comes to distractions.
One of the most common causes of distracted truck driving occurs when the driver does not get sufficient rest. Truck drivers are often under pressure to move loads of cargo long distances in as short of a time as possible. This can create a temptation to cut corners when it comes to taking time off and getting sufficient sleep. Although federal regulations dictate how much rest time a truck driver must get, not all driver and truck companies adhere to these requirements.
Oklahomans injured in a truck accident should investigate the possible causes of the accident. Trucking logs and other evidence could prove that the driver did not have adequate rest. Truck driver fatigue can be evidence in support of a victim's legal claims against the driver and his or her employer.
Distracted truck driving comes in different forms, but truck driver fatigue is one of the more common and deadly.
Source: U.S. Department of Transportation, "2010-2011 Hours of Service Rule
