Trucking Accidents Frequently Caused by Medically Impaired Drivers

Studies show that hundreds of deaths and injuries on the highway each are caused by truck drivers suffering from medical problems behind the wheel. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration admits that it hasn’t implemented any of the eight recommendations regulators proposed in 2001. The number of trucking crashes has been described as a “major public safety problem,” and impacts drivers in every state.

The leading cause of serious accidents by large trucks occurred where drivers fell asleep, suffered heart attacks or seizures, or otherwise became impaired because of a medical condition. The FMCSA medical oversight board states that trucking accidents are one of the biggest causes of occupational death in the US, and is urging more doctors visits for truck drivers.