CVSA To Crack Down On Reckless Driving
A Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration study found that driver behavior is the primary cause of most accidents involving large trucks These types of accidents in Connecticut and around the country are caused by some sort of driver error 88 percent of the time, and driver behavior leads to 93 percent of car and SUV crashes. Reducing accidents caused by truck driver errors is one of the primary goals of the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s Operation Safe Driver week, which is scheduled to get underway on Oct. 16.
During the CVSA initiative, law enforcement agencies across the nation will be paying close attention to the way large trucks are being driven and how passenger vehicle drivers behave in their presence. Police pulled over 21,012 tractor-trailers, cars and SUVs during Operation Safe Driver Week in 2015, and roadside inspectors checked the safety equipment on 19,480 semis.
Oversized or overweight cargo and speeding were the two most common citations issued to truck drivers during Operation Safe Driver Week in 2015, and passenger vehicle drivers most frequently faced a ticket for speeding or not wearing their seat belts. Passenger vehicle and truck drivers were also commonly cited for failing to obey traffic signals, making improper lane changes, following too closely and using cellphones while behind the wheel.
The citations issued in law enforcement initiatives like Operation Safe Driver Week and the violations discovered during roadside inspections may also help to establish a pattern of negligent behavior in truck accident lawsuits, and the results of safety inspections carried out by agencies like the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration could be cited by personal injury attorneys seeking compensation for truck accident victims. Attorneys may also review eyewitness statements, police reports and cellphone records for evidence that could be used to establish negligence.