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Causes of Truck Drivers’ Fatigue

Driver fatigue is bad news for any truck driver and a nightmare for victims of truck accidents. Data of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration or NHTSA show that fatigued or drowsy driving causes approximately 100,000 reported road crashes and claims more than 1,550 lives annually.

Fatigue decreases driver’s judgment and awareness that usually leads to auto accidents. Drivers must keep in mind that other people’s lives are at stake whenever they drive. Learning what causes driver fatigue can significantly help in avoiding it. Here are the most common possible reasons for truck driver fatigue and drowsiness:

Fatigue decreases driver’s judgment and awareness that usually leads to auto accidents. Drivers must keep in mind that other people’s lives are at stake whenever they drive. Learning what causes driver fatigue can significantly help in avoiding it. Here are the most common possible reasons for truck driver fatigue and drowsiness:

• Sleep debt. Not getting enough sleep for over a number of days makes a driver more likely to become fatigued especially when driving.
• Long driving hours. Long work hours, especially over more than one day, can lead to impaired physical and mental alertness.
• Night driving. Night time driving can contribute additional stress to driver’s body because this is the usual time for sleeping.
• Other physical work. Doing other non-driving duties like loading, unloading, and heavy lifting can add to the stress of driving.
• Driving conditions. Poor weather condition, noise, monotonous driving, driving on very familiar roads can lower the concentration of the driver and can cause inattentiveness.
• Demanding schedule. Tight scheduling can cause fatigue to truck drivers, the anxiety of not getting late on scheduled time can cause lack of concentration and focus in driving.
• Poor health and fitness. Health issue is also a contributing factor to driver fatigue. Being unfit or overweight or having health disorder can make driving more draining and tiring.

It is imperative for all drivers to get plenty of rest before hitting the road. Sleep deprivation can drag the physical and mental attentiveness which causes driver fatigue and compromised driving skills.

Nobody wants to get involved in truck accidents, whether you are a driver or a pedestrian. A truck accident is a devastating and overwhelming mishap anyone can face, and if this happens, filing a personal injury claim is as important as getting medical attention. The truck driver and trucking company involved should provide compensation to the party affected.