Sleep deprivation slows reaction time and can lead to lapses in attention, difficulty processing information, and poor judgment. Many experts believe that driving while tired is as bad, if not worse, than driving drunk.

Despite the risks, many commercial truckers drive without adequate sleep due to driver shortages, pressure to deliver on time, and other factors. By some estimates, commercial driver errors account for over 10,000 collisions in Ohio every year, many of them fatal.

If you were injured or a loved one was killed in a truck accident, Robenalt Law can help. Our lawyers are well-known as aggressive advocates and vehement protectors of the rights of injured people and their families.

Tom Robenalt was admitted to practice law in 1991 and began his legal career as a staff attorney in the state court system. Soon after, he joined a large firm in Cleveland, where he defended corporations and insurance companies. In 1997, Tom joined a prestigious plaintiff’s personal injury firm. Since then, he has dedicated his career to representing people injured by someone else’s negligence.

What Is Driver Fatigue and Why Is It So Dangerous?

Driver fatigue is a state of physical or mental exhaustion that occurs when a driver is over-tired. Driver fatigue reduces a person’s ability to operate a vehicle safely, primarily due to delayed reaction time, difficulty concentrating, and poor judgment. While driver fatigue is hazardous for any driver, it is particularly dangerous for commercial truck drivers who operate vehicles that weigh up to 80,000 pounds.

According to a study published by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Study, drivers who slept less than 4 hours during the previous day are 11.5 times more likely to cause a serious accident than drivers who left more than 7 hours.

By comparison, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) found that a driver with a blood alcohol content of .08% was only 3.9 times more likely to cause a crash than a driver who had not consumed any alcohol.

Taken together, these statistics mean a tired driver is almost 3 times more likely to cause a crash than a drunk driver.

These statistics are particularly concerning, especially when studies show that long-haul commercial truck drivers averaged less than 5 hours of sleep per night. Repeated failure to get adequate sleep, known as “sleep debt,” results in growing cognitive deficits. When a truck driver regularly gets less than the recommended amount of sleep over the course of days, they are more likely to cause a serious, even fatal crash.

Harmful Effects of Truck Driver Fatigue

Truck driver fatigue can lead to dangerous driving behaviors, including:

• Drifting into other lanes
• Tunnel vision” (loss of awareness of what is happening in the periphery)
• Microsleep (brief sleep episodes lasting from a fraction of a second up to 5 seconds)
• Lack of alertness
• Decreased attention and poor concentration
• Difficulty filtering pertinent information
• Inability to rapidly process situational data to make safe decisions
• Delayed reaction time
• Lack of vigilance

Why Are Truck Drivers at Increased Risk of Driving Tired?

Truck drivers are at high risk of driving while tired.

• Hours of Service Rules. Even though the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) limits commercial drivers to 11 consecutive hours of driving and a maximum of 14 hours in any 24-hour period, the rules contain exceptions for bad weather (drivers in adverse weather can stay on the road longer). In addition, the trucking industry is seeing growth in the short-haul market segment, which is exempt from some hours of service rules.
• Driver Shortage. The trucking industry is currently experiencing a shortage of qualified, experienced drivers. This shortage is expected to worsen in the next decade. The trucking industry will need to gain 100,000 truckers every year to handle the increased demand and replace drivers who retire or otherwise leave the industry.
• Medical Conditions. The lifestyle of a long-haul trucker can lead to numerous medical conditions that can impact a driver’s ability to remain focused behind the wheel, including diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, and alcohol or substance abuse.
• Forced Productivity. Most truck drivers are paid by the load, delivery, or mile. Incentive pay combined with the labor shortage places increased pressure on the existing truck drivers. In addition, many regional carriers (like Amazon) hire less experienced drivers to drive at peak times or require that they deliver packages in compliance with unrealistic routing or performance standards.

Are Tired Drivers More Likely to Be Involved in Serious Accidents?

Research shows tired drivers are more likely to be involved in serious, even fatal crashes. Driver fatigue leads to lapses in judgment, inability to focus, and poor decision-making. For drivers carrying loads that weigh up to 80,000 pounds, these mistakes can have serious, often fatal consequences.

Injured in a Truck Accident? Contact Robenalt Law Today.

If you were injured or a loved one was killed in a trucking accident, Robenalt Law can help. With offices in Cleveland and Columbus, we represent people throughout Ohio and nationwide.

Call our Cleveland office at (216) 223-7535 or our Columbus office at (614)-695-3800 or contact us online to schedule a free, confidential, no-obligation appointment to discuss your situation and how we can help.