It is an unfortunate fact that hundreds of thousands of truck accidents occur every single year, and many of those collisions are the result of tired and distracted drivers. That is why commercial drivers throughout West Virginia and the rest of the country should stay focused and alert while on the road. A minor distraction can lead to a life-altering collision that every CDL holder must try to avoid at all costs.
Even commercial drivers who adhere to all state and federal laws can put themselves in dangerous situations. After driving on monotonous roads for hours, some drivers experience “micro-sleeps” for up to 15 seconds. Others begin to fiddle with their radios or check their smartphones every few minutes, and those distractions sometimes result in major accidents. Those are just a few of the reasons why companies like Omnitrac, SmartDrive and Nauto are developing advanced driver monitoring systems.
These systems often use a wide variety of tools and devices to track drivers over long hauls. With cameras and other sensors, one of these systems will identify when an individual is falling asleep, using their phone or driving unsafely. They can also notify employers and logistic companies when their drivers could potentially be in danger because of the road conditions or how long they have been driving. A representative from Nauto claims that using these systems can reduce “distracted” events by up to 70 percent.
When truck driver fatigue results in a collision, the victims may want to work with an attorney to receive the compensation that they deserve. If a case is successful, compensation might be used to cover expenses such as medical bills, ongoing therapy, car repairs and lost wages.