Drivers in New Orleans can face a real threat from commercial trucks whose braking systems are not properly maintained. Due to the weight and mass of this type of vehicle, poorly maintained brakes can lead to devastating crashes and accompanying severe injuries. The risk posed by dangerous truck brakes to everyone else on the road is one reason the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance is organizing a national Brake Safety Week between September 16-22, 2018. In 2017, the brake safety initiative had been cut back to one day, but in 2018, the safety alliance is returning to its previous annual one-week schedule.
Trucker fatigue the focus of 2018 International Roadcheck
The International Roadcheck is a three-day inspection spree conducted by the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance. Its purpose is to enforce safety guidelines for bus and commercial truck drivers. An annual event, the roadcheck took place this year from June 5 to 7 and focused on the issue of hours-of-service non-compliance. Drivers in Louisiana who get wary when sharing the road with truckers will want to know more about this unsafe trend.
How technology may play a role in minimizing driver distractions
For the better part of a decade, a growing number of car accidents in Louisiana and other states have been blamed on drivers distracted by technology. Ironically, it's technology that could play a role in blocking certain communications while driving that may help curb the problem. According to a National Safety Council survey, about half of the more than 2,000 drivers surveyed would leave such technologies in place to minimize distractions.
The most common truck crash injuries
Drivers in Louisiana most likely know that they should be extra cautious when sharing the road around large trucks. This is because large truck accidents are some of the most serious that occur. Studies show that 97 percent of fatalities in accidents between large truck accidents and passenger vehicles are incurred on the side of the passenger vehicle. The injuries that survivors incur are also severe.
Fatal crashes by large trucks increase
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) found that fatal accidents involving large trucks in Louisiana and across the United States increased by 3 percent in 2016. The FMSCA study also found that 73 percent of these crashes were due to another person, vehicle, object or animal entering the large truck's lane.
