Kentucky Accident Blog

Sleep Related Crashes

Three years ago in Wisconsin a bus carrying high school students crashed
into an overturned tractor trailer killing five people.  The National
Transportation Safety Board investigated the crash and determined the
driver of the tractor trailer had fallen asleep while driving.  He
drifted off the side of the road then swerved to get back onto the
highway causing his rig to overturn.  The bus traveling behind the
truck was not able to avoid the accident and crashed into the truck.

The NTSB has suggested that trucking companies work harder insuring
their drivers get adequate rest while traveling long distances on the
road.  They have asked the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
to be more aggressive in insuring the trucking companies records are
kept up to date as well as the drivers diligently filling their log
books.  A driver is allowed to drive for 11 hours only after 10 hours of
off duty time and their log book  is a record of their time on the road, off the road and sleeping times.

There is also technology in the very early stages that may reduce
fatigue induced crashes.  An dash mounted camera is in the works that
will track eye and eyelid movement and will sound an alert if the driver
appears to be nodding off.  Since drivers are often not aware of their
fatigue this could be beneficial.  Several luxury cars now have similar
options available for their cars

So many automobile accidents are the result of a drivers lack of
responsibility.  It is the drivers responsibility to drive only when
rested and to not drive when they are fatigued.

For more information on Louisville, Kentucky attorney Mike Schafer go to www.mikeschaferlaw.com.