The Obama administration is reconsidering a poor decision made by the Bush administration to extend truck drivers’ hours of service. This previous decision has placed the driving public at the mercy of fatigued truckers who are a genuine threat to public safety. According to a news report, the Bush administration, urged by the trucking industry, issued a federal rule allowing truck drivers to put in up to 11 hours a day and cut down the rest time they must get between work weeks as well. Before this rule was passed, truckers were allowed to work only 10 hours behind the wheel each day. Going over opposition by federal courts and the government’s own Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the White House passed the rule anyway in October 2008.
This situation existed until the Obama administration worked out a deal recently with several safety advocacy groups to reconsider the Bush administration’s 11th hour rule. But here’s the worrisome part. Until the government is done reconsidering this rule, public safety is still in jeopardy because of tired truckers.
Missouri truck accident lawyers know that truck driver fatigue is a significant factor in many tractor trailer versus car, motorcycle, or other auto accidents. When a truck driver falls asleep at the wheel while operating an 80,000-pound vehicle, there is no question about the damage and devastation such a situation has the potential to cause. In a recent survey, 20 percent of long-haul truck drivers admitted to falling asleep at the wheel. That statistic in itself should tell us how often these dangerous situations are created on our roadways.
If you or a loved one has been injured by a tired, sleepy or fatigued truck driver, please contact Page Law to get more information about your legal rights and options. Our personal injury law firm can immediately alert our truck accident team and begin taking the same action as the truck company and their insurance company. Failure to file your claim promptly may forever bar your claim. The statutes of limitations vary from state to state and could limit the amount of time that a personal injury victim has to file a lawsuit. Please do not let this happen to you. Call skilled attorney John Page today at (866) 620-5757 for a free consultation and case evaluation.
Source:http://www.inthesetimes.com/working/entry/5188/driving_their_lives_away/
