Texting and Truck Driving: A Deadly and Distracting Mix
Truck driving is known for tight schedules and long hours behind the wheel. Because drivers are expected to get their hauls from point A to point B in short amounts of time, they aren’t able to take many stops. As a result, they end up multi-tasking while they drive.
Texting while distracted has become a dangerous epidemic, and thousands of people die each year because of it. As a result, April has been declared Distracted Driving Month to bring awareness to the dangerous activity. And although many drivers know that this type of behavior can result in serious accidents and injuries, they still engage.
The Dangerous Reality of Distracted Truck Driving
Distracted truck driving is so dangerous that the Department of Transportation has enacted a federal law that prohibits truckers from texting while behind the wheel, and doing so can result in an expensive fine. Although distracted driving is dangerous for everyone, it is even more so for truckers, and here’s why:
- When truckers reach for cell phones, they are 6.7 times more likely to cause truck accidents.
- When truckers look at maps, they are seven times more likely to cause accidents.
- Truckers are 8.9 times more likely to cause accidents when they use dispatch services.
- Truck drivers are 5.9 times more likely to cause accidents while dialing a cell phone.
- Texting truck drivers remove their eyes from the road for an average of 4.6 seconds out of every 6 seconds.
Let Us Fight for Your Rights
When you’re driving down I-45, I-10, or any other road in the Houston area, you hope that the motorists around you are driving responsibly. When they’re not, they put your life at risk. Attorney Steve Lee wants to help victims of truck accidents get the compensation they deserve when they’ve been injured in a truck accident. Contact us today to learn how we have helped others and how we may be able to help you as well.