In order to do their jobs, the drivers of big rig trucks must put in a lot of time behind the wheel. This means that they are away from the comforts of home and instead must contend with many factors that can negatively impact their health.
Results from a recently published study conducted among 800 truck drivers cast some light on the possible connections between driver health and truck crash risks. Truck drivers often endure working long hours and stress. They also frequently do not get enough sleep and exercise. The researchers believe that these conditions can lead truck drivers to suffer from high blood pressure and fatigue, which in turn makes them more susceptible to being involved in accidents.
Statistics bear out the severity of the problem. Every year, there are approximately 250,000 accidents involving truck drivers. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics states that fatalities result from one to 2 percent of those accidents.
Driving a truck is clearly a very taxing job. However, there are things that drivers can and must do to be safer on the road. For one thing, they should always adhere to the federal laws requiring them to take breaks and get sleep while out on the road.
It is in everyone's best interests that truck drivers do what they can to stay healthy and as well rested as possible. An unhealthy or tired truck driver is vulnerable to succumbing to the effects of fatigue. As we know, fatigue can negatively impact a person's ability to safely operate a motor vehicle.
If you should ever be involved in an accident caused by a fatigued truck driver, you could likely use the representation of an experienced truck accident attorney. The attorney could work to help you gain a fair measure of compensation to cover medical expenses and damages.
Source: U.S. News & World Report, "Truckers' Fatigue, Cellphones Boost Their Crash Risk: Study," Robert Preidt, Oct. 26, 2015