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How distracted driving is affecting the trucking industry

On Behalf of | Oct 29, 2018 | Truck Accidents

Truck drivers spend a significant amount of time on Oklahoma’s highways. That’s why safety advocates say the companies that employ them must take the lead in promoting protocols to reduce the number of deadly crashes. Truckers are especially singled out because deadlines are always an issue with deliveries. Furthermore, the sheer size of a large semi can result in severe injury or death.

Maintaining focus on the task of driving has become even more important now that modern technology is literally at one’s fingertips. A recent AAA report indicated distracted driving has become the No. 1 safety concern for drivers ahead of drunk driving, drugged driving and aggressive driving. Fatigue is a common culprit when distracted driving is raised as an issue. Difficulty concentrating or even nodding off can be symptoms, but when distracted driving is more rigorously analyzed, it can be broken down to three different components — visual, manual or cognitive.

Although driving becomes for many a seemingly routine action, it requires a complex interaction among the bodies senses. One’s ability to drive safely is reduced by any activity that takes the driver’s eyes off the road, hands off the wheel or concentration away from driving. Texting, for example, does all three.

A big rig crash is far more likely to occur if the truck driver is distracted. However, truck accidents can be more complicated than other vehicle crashes because of the multiple parties involved. In addition, there are numerous federal regulations governing the industry. A truck accident lawyer can explain how an injured victim could potentially receive compensation for injuries.