It is no secret that distracted and fatigued drivers can be particularly dangerous on our roadways. Truck accidents can be particularly serious for victims when drivers are distracted or fatigued because of the significant size discrepancy between trucks and the motor vehicles they share the roadways with. While experience and skill level contribute to the safety of truck drivers, a new study recently revealed that truck drivers with 3 or more medical conditions can pose an increased danger on the roadways.
A study conducted by the University of Utah School of Medicine found that commercial truck drivers who have 3 or more medical conditions double or quadruple their chances of being involved in a truck accident when compared to more healthy drivers. Even somewhat minor health conditions, the study found, if the drivers have several of them, can increase the truck driver’s truck accident risk and the amount of danger they pose on the roadways.
The study examined the health records of 50,000 commercial truck drivers and found that 34 percent show signs of at least one of several medical conditions previously associated with poor driving performance, including heart disease, diabetes and low back pain. When also examining crash histories, drivers with at least 3 of the medical conditions previously associated with poor driving performance were more likely to have been involved in a truck accident. Currently, commercial motor vehicle guidelines remove truck drivers with major health concerns but the cumulative impact of several minor health concerns is not considered.
Truck accidents can have devastating consequences and impacts for victims and their families which is why they may be able to recover compensation for damages from a negligent truck driver or negligent trucking company when they have been harmed. As a result, it is important for victims and their families to be familiar with these resources and options when they have suffered harm in a truck accident.
Source: Gobytrucknews.com, “Study Shows Drivers With Multiple Medical Issues Higher Crash Risk,” Feb. 15, 2017