Truck Accident and Driver Fatigue Statistics

DROWSY DRIVER OTRUCK CRAS H STATISTICS MAIN CAUSES of TRUCK ACCIDENTS 100% 50% 0% 87.2% Driver Error 10.1% Vehicle Malfunction 2.3% Environmental Factor TOP 10 DRIVER-REPORTED FACTORS Drivers reported IN LARGE TRUCK CRASHES: FALLING ALSEEP as the critical 10 1. Brake problems (29%) REASON FOR A CRASH 2. Traveling too fast for conditions (23%) 7% of the time. 3. Driver unfamiliar with roadway (22%) 4. Roadway problems (20%) Another 41% of drivers reported 5. Over-the-counterdrug use by driver (17%) MINOR FATIGUE, 6. Inadequate surveillance (14%) INATTENTION, OR 7. Fatigue (13%) PRESSURE FROM WORK 8. Work pressure from carrier (10%) as associated factors to the accident, 9. Driver made illegal maneuver (9%) 10. Driver inattention (9%) WHERE CRASHES OCCUR Trip Distance 1 IN 4 TRUCKERS said they have FALLEN ASLEEP zwhile driving during the previous month. Local Long-Haul over 51 miles 65% OF FATAL CRASHES OCCUR ON LONG-HAUL TRIPS (over 51 miles from base) Truckers average LESS THAN 5 HOURS of sleep per night. Adults require Unknown 7-9 hours of uninterrupted sleep. 500 1000 1500 2000 Number of Crashes HOURS OF SERVICE RULES SLEEP LOSS impacts performance SIMILAR TO ALCOHOL. XXX Performance is impaired if sleep is limited to 5 hours for more than 2 nights. After 24 hours awake, the effect is equivalent to a • Maximum 11 consecutive hours driving • Maximum 14 consecutive hours on-duty (maintenance, loading, paperwork, etc.) • Minimum 10 consecutive hours off-duty between driving/on-duty • Maximum 60 hours on-duty per previous 7 days OR Maximum 70 hours on-duty per previous 8 days BAC 0.10%. *Some crashes involved multiple trucks, resulting in more trucks and drivers than crashes. SSOURCES: Dawson D. Reid K. Fatigue, alcohol and performance impairment. Nature 1997:388:235 • Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration • The Large Truck Crash Causation Study • Mitler, M.M. et al. The Sleep of Long-Haul Truck Drivers. The New England Journal of Medicine 1997:333:11. • Q&As: Large Trucks-Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Trucks Involved in Fatal Accidents Factbook 2007-UMTRI produced for MCINTYRE LAW P.c.