Will a National Database of Drug-Using Truckers Protect Chicago Drivers?
by
Matthew Willens on Aug. 04, 2015
Accident & Injury Accident & Injury Car Accident Accident & Injury Personal Injury
Summary: While the incidence of truck accidents may be less on Chicago highways and roads compared to car accidents, they carry with them a larger risk of injury.
When you pit an 80,000 pound 18 wheeler against a 4,000 pound car at 50 mph, the odds are not in favor of the driver of the car. The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration has for years applied higher standards to trucks and truck drivers for this reason, and now they are considering even more rules.
If you have recently been in an accident with a large truck, than you can understand why the strictest legislation is needed when it comes to truck safety. Talk to a Mathew Willens Chicago truck accident lawyer about your crash, and let them investigate to see if the driver was in violation of any of the many rules regarding truck driving and safety.
Concerns for Truck Accidents and Truck Drivers
Fatigue is one of the leading reasons behind truck accidents, and the reason why there are rules for how long a driver is permitted to be behind the wheel. Yet fatigue is not the only trouble. What the NHTSA has found is that a number of accidents involving trucks are happening as a result of drug and/or alcohol use. To combat this, regulators are considering a national database that will track drug test data of commercial truck drivers in an attempt to keep them off of the road.
The 21st Century Act
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) reported in March that a proposal has been made to require employers of large truck drivers to:
- Report all drug and alcohol test results to a national database
- Use this data base as reference for every new driver being considered for hire
- Report all traffic citations and tickets to the database where the driver was found to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol
When a trucking company logs into the database they will find information on drug testing, refused drug testing and testing that resulted in a driver not being permitted to return to work. Other third-party contributions will also be contained, including recent medical reviews. This proposal could radically decrease the number of truck accidents reported each year in Chicago.
According to regulations imposed by the NHTSA, companies that employ a large number of truck drivers have a responsibility to ensure that they are fit to drive, and are in compliance with the rules set forth. This database provides them with additional means of screening job candidates and eliminating those they feel are a risk for their company.
Understand that there are dozens of rules that a trucking company and its drivers must follow with every trip.
Contact a Chicago Truck Accident Lawyer Today!
If you have been injured in an accident with a commercial vehicle, contact the Willens law Offices at (312) 957-4166 or fill out our online contact form. If the truck accident was caused by negligence on the part of the trucking company or driver, we will pursue maximum compensation for your injuries and other losses relating to the collision.
