The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is a federal government agency that regulates and provides oversight of commercial motor vehicles that use America’s roadways. As part of the work it performs, the FMCSA collects data and statistics about large commercial motor vehicle crashes that occur throughout the country. They often report on this data to show trends in truck crash statistics, and they officially compile and release the Large Truck Crash Causation Study to identify the most common causes of tractor trailer crashes.
Board Certified Truck Accident Law Attorney Robert “Bob” Byrne
According to the FMCSA study, the most common causes of tractor trailer crashes are:
- Driver-Related Factors. The FMCSA identified that the majority of truck crashes were caused by problems with the truck driver, such as speeding, distraction, impairment (alcohol or drugs), and fatigue. The federal safety regulations require drivers to follow reasonable rules. If those rules are followed, virtually all of these causes of crashes can be prevented. For example, drivers must follow hours of service requirements that limit how many hours per day a truck driver is permitted to drive. If a driver violates those rules, it can lead to fatigue or even illness. Then, the federal safety rules require drivers who feel fatigued or ill while driving to stop driving when they are safely able to do so. By following these rules and the various layers they present, drivers can avoid most of the problems that lead to driver-caused crashes.
- Vehicle-Related Factors. There could be a variety of problems caused by vehicle defects and lack of maintenance issues. This can include issues related to the truck itself, such as brake problems, tire issues, steering problems, and other mechanical failures or malfunctions. In addition to these types of vehicle problems, there could be malfunctions from defective collision avoidance or crash mitigation technology that fails to work as required. Those malfunctions could cause preventable crashes to occur.
- Bad Weather. Adverse or hazardous weather conditions, such as rain, ice, snow, and fog, cause many crashes. These hazardous conditions can lead to a number of problems, including poor visibility and slippery road surfaces that cause a loss of tire traction. The federal safety regulations contain specific rules for driving in hazardous conditions, found at 49 C.F.R. sec. 392.14. This particular provision requires truck drivers who encounter conditions that affect visibility or traction to drive with “extreme caution.” Extreme caution can be interpreted to main various things depending on the circumstances. For example, for a driver who is on icy roads, the driver may need to slow the truck to a “crawl” to make sure the driver maintains control in terrible weather conditions. For driving in heavy rain, a driver should reduce his traveling speed by approximately 1/3rd below the posted speed limit. Both of these forms of “extreme caution” help ensure that a truck driver is able to avoid problems created by other motorists on the roads.
- Road-Related Factors. Roadway characteristics, such as construction zones, poorly marked lanes, roadway defects, and uneven road surfaces, are factors that cause tractor trailer crashes. Truck drivers are required in a certain manner that anticipates problems in the roadway, including obstacles caused by construction zones.
- Traffic conditions. Problems related to traffic flow, including congestion and sudden stops, were noted to be factors that caused some crashes involving large trucks. Truck drivers should be driving in accordance with the 12-15 second rule. This rule requires drivers to be looking at the roadway and and to be able to see and respond to any problem that could arise in the 12-15 seconds ahead.
- Driver Inexperience or Lack of Proper Qualifications. Inexperienced drivers, especially those new to the trucking industry, are statistically more likely to be involved in crashes than experienced drivers. In addition, it is far too often that drivers with terrible driving records who are unqualified to drive nevertheless drive trucks. This can lead to crashes as well.
This list of truck crash causes has both good news and bad news. The good news is that every single one of these causes of crashes is essentially preventable. If drivers follow the Federal Motor Carrier Safety regulations and rules from the commercial drivers license manuals, they will avoid the driver-related factors like fatigue, illness, drugs, alcohol, or other impairments that cause crashes. Drivers and motor carriers will also make sure tractors and trailers and all of their equipment and parts are properly maintained and in good working order. Drivers will use extreme caution in hazardous weather. Drivers will drive properly on bad roadways or when traffic conditions increase danger. Trucking companies will make sure drivers are properly qualified and trained.
The bad news, at the same time, is that there are rules in place that drivers are not following. Crashes keep happening even though there are rules in place. So while it is true that many drivers and trucking companies know the rules, it appears to be equally true that truck drivers who cause crashes oftentimes violate those clear rules.
It is certainly the case that crashes can be caused by a multitude of reasons. And it is just as certain that some crashes can occur even when a tractor trailer driver follows all of the rules of the road.
But there is little question that the far majority of crashes that do happen never should have happened in the first place. These crashes were preventable. If truck drivers followed the rules of the road, must of those crashes would not have happened.
If you or a loved one have been involved in a tractor trailer crash, please contact experienced truck accident lawyer Robert E. Byrne, Jr.
For a legal consultation with a personal injury lawyer, call 434-817-3100
Bob is the first and only attorney in Virginia to become Board Certified in Truck Accident Law by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. This certification demonstrates Bob’s dedication to representing injured parties and families in injury and death claims from tractor trailer crashes. Bob has extensive experience helping victims of tractor trailers and their families, and he would be honored to discuss your case with you or your attorney.
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