Drowsy driving may increase with suspension of trucker resting rules
Posted January 14th, 2015 by Anthony Carbone, PC.
Categories: Auto Accidents.
It’s becoming an epidemic. Sleep deprived drivers on the road can lead to deadly consequences. Despite what the US Department of Transportation has recommended in the past, Congress had recently suspended resting rules for truckers, allowing them to stay on the road longer. Truck drivers are now allowed to be on road for up to 82 hours without resting. This can definitely lead to more accidents caused by drowsy drivers.
How bad is fatigued driving? Well, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, drowsy driving causes more than 100,000 crashes a year which result in 40,000 injuries and 1,550 deaths. According to Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, driver fatigue is the number one factor in large truck crashes. In fact, a recent study has found drowsy driving can be just as dangerous as driving while intoxicated.
New Jersey has tried to battle drowsy driving by passing Maggie’s Law. The law states drivers who, after staying awake for 24 hours, get into a fatal accident will be charged with vehicular homicide. It was named after Maggie McDonnell, who had died in a head-on collision with a fatigued driver. But the best way to combat drowsy driving is not getting behind the wheel at all.
If you have been in an auto accident with a drowsy driver, you’re going to need an experienced personal injury lawyer by your side. Contact the Law Offices of Anthony Carbone today for a free consultation.
