Car accidents in general on U.S. roadways are a significant safety concern, but truck accidents in particular are of even greater concern. Given the size of trucks, accidents involving them often lead to severe injuries, fatalities, and substantial financial costs as compared to accidents with regular cars. By understanding the most common causes of truck accidents, you can help to improve safety measures on the road and reduce the number of accidents with your own actions. The following seven top reasons for truck accidents in the U.S. are among the most common, so learn what you need to know about the risk factors of each.
1. Distracted Driving
The first common cause for why nearly 3,000 people were injured driving on Houston roads alone is due to distracted driving. Truck drivers in particular spend long hours on the road which can lead to mental fatigue, boredom, and a greater temptation to engage in distractions. Whether it’s flipping a smartphone on, opening a meal, adjusting GPS settings, or even just daydreaming, not being 100% focused at the wheel can lead to a wreck.
Trucks require greater stopping distance and more room for maneuverability which is why even a momentary distraction can have greater consequences than when you are in a normal vehicle. While many truck companies encourage the use of hands-free technology, it is ultimately up to you to not be distracted on the road.
2. Driving While Tired
Building off of the prior point, the long hours that truck drivers experience often lead to fatigue on the road. Coupling this with the intense pressure many drivers feel to meet tight delivery deadlines and it’s easy to forget to sleep. A lack of sleep can affect your reaction time, judgment, and general motor skills which makes it one of the most dangerous causes of accidents on the road. Federal regulations do limit the number of hours that truck drivers can go without a break, but companies and drivers themselves often stretch these rules.
3. Speeding or Reckless Driving
The third most common cause of truck accidents on roads today is reckless driving or speeding. Given the size and weight of trucks, they often need much more time to come to a stop as compared to smaller vehicles. When you choose to exceed the speed limit or drive to fast for road conditions as a truck driver, your ability to stop in time or to safely navigate a twisty roadway goes right out the window.
Going further, aggressive or reckless driving such as abrupt lane changes, tailgating, and not signaling can increase the risk of truck accidents. Many truck drivers choose to follow safe driving practices, but those who opt to engage in speeding or reckless driving are simply putting themselves and others pointlessly at risk.
4. Poor Weather Conditions
Adverse weather conditions such as intense rain, heavy snowfall, thick fog, and slippery ice can drastically increase the risk of a truck accident. As mentioned previously, the heavy loads of a truck make it more difficult to maneuver which means bad weather causing a truck to hydroplane or shift lanes will be harder to correct. On top of this, reduced visibility from fog, snow, rain, or other conditions will make it harder for you to see other vehicles on the road, thus impacting your stopping time.
Experienced truck drivers have certainly been on the road during poor weather conditions, but even the most skilled drivers are still at risk. Always choose to reduce your speed and increase the following distance when you notice the weather start to turn south.
5. Improperly Loaded Cargo
An often overlooked cause of truck accidents on the road is due to trucks that have improperly loaded cargo. This can result in trucks carrying unbalanced loads or overloaded loads which are unstable, thus increasing the likelihood of rollover accidents or an accident while performing a turn. Unsecured cargo can sometimes also shift while your truck is in motion which can make you lose control unexpectedly.
If your truck happens to be overloaded, it will also place a greater strain on the braking system which will make it harder to stop the vehicle in an emergency. Strict federal regulations on the weight of trucks are in place, including rules on cargo loading, securements, and general weight, but many violations of these rules still occur which leads to accidents.
6. Inexperienced Truck Drivers
Driving a large commercial truck takes quite an amount of specialized skill and training, but many new truck drivers hop behind the wheel before they are ready. Inexperienced drivers can quickly find themselves struggling with the maneuverability of large trucks, adjusting to wider blind spots, and even understanding how to drive the vehicle in poor conditions. This naturally can lead to many accidents on the road.
On top of this, there is currently a shortage of drivers in the trucking industry which has led many companies to rush the hiring process or even relax their training standards. Overall, this allows more inexperienced drivers on the road which can increase the risk of accidents.
7. Mechanical Failures
The final common cause of truck accidents on U.S. roadways is simply mechanical failures that are out of your control while driving. Whether it’s a brake malfunction, tire blowout, engine issues, or some other problem, mechanical failures are a serious concern. Trucks are complex machines that require regular maintenance in order to function safely, but companies that don’t maintain their vehicles put their drivers and other motorists at risk.
Given all of the above, it’s clear that truck accidents on U.S. roadways are caused by a wide variety of factors, but most of them are preventable. Whether it’s distracted driving, poor weather, not loading cargo correctly, or one of the other causes, take preventative action to avoid a wreck. Focus on training yourself to be a better driver, be aware of trucking regulations, and increase your awareness while on the road to keep yourself and other motorists safe.
