The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that over 100,000 people suffer harm in truck accidents each year, and approximately 4,000 lose their life.
Regulations on Truck Drivers
A seasoned Melissa truck accident attorney understands that there are many state and federal regulations all commercial truck drivers must follow. These laws are meant to decrease the frequency of accidents. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration creates the federal regulations for truck drivers. In accordance with regulations, commercial truck drivers are not allowed to text while driving. Drivers must also follow hands-free communication laws.
Commercial truck operators must also obtain sufficient medical clearance stating the driver does not have any physical condition that would challenge their ability to safely operate a truck.
Furthermore, to prevent drivers from falling asleep at the wheel, commercial truck drivers may not exceed an established number of consecutive hours of driving. Because commercial trucks are much more difficult to control than smaller motor vehicles, truck drivers may not operate a truck with a blood alcohol content of .04 percent or above. Finally, any person operating a commercial truck must obtain the proper licensing and training and meet the specific size and weight restrictions regarding the permissible size of a commercial truck.
