Texas Truck Accident Attorney

Drug Abuse, Alcohol Abuse, and Trucking

The majority of people in the United States that mixing drugs or alcohol with driving is not a good plan. When they think about it not being in the best interest of society, they are generally thinking about ordinary people driving ordinary sized cars. Unfortunately, drug and alcohol abuse is a widespread problem among the drivers of the 18-wheelers that cross the country carrying goods on a daily basis.

Alcohol Abuse

A driver does not have to be legally drunk to have their driving ability impaired. Even with a low level BAC, a driver’s reaction time and reflexes are affected. Because the Federal government recognizes the increased threat the driver of a commercial vehicle poses to the well-being of others, federal regulations prohibit commercial truck drivers from operating their vehicles with a BAC greater than or equal to .04. That is half the legal limit of what ordinary drivers face.

Despite the higher penalties and the explicit .04 allowable BAC, 1-3% of all truck accidents involve alcohol impairment. This number used to be much higher but, thanks to harsh enforcement and penalties, is now down to 1-3%. 1-3% still amounts to between 46 and 140 fatal truck accidents that result from alcohol impairment.

Marijuana

Many drivers, and people in general, believe that drugged driving is safer than drunk driving. In reality, smoking a joint and then driving still affects one’s ability to concentrate, perception, and reaction time up to 24 hours after it’s smoked. That has a much longer time of affecting behavior than alcohol does. The National Transportation Board found that 12.5% of all fatal truck accidents.

Methamphetamine

Even though there are federal regulations saying how many hours in a day a truck driver can work, truck drivers are always looking for ways to beat the system. They want to work longer hours in a day or drive more miles just so that they can gain that extra edge and get their cargo to its destination a little bit earlier. As this is the case, truck drivers often turn to methamphetamines. In a recent survey of 20 different truck drivers, 17 of them said that meth was easy to be procured at any truck stop. That’s 85%.

Truck drivers are responsible for the operation of commercial vehicles on our highways. It is important that they be sober. If you or someone you know has been injured in an accident involving a truck, contact the Texas Truck Accident Lawyers of Williams Kherkher at 1-866-950-9000.