Big rigs or 18-wheelers are one of the main means by which our food, clothing, and household needs get to the stores in which we buy them. Due to their sheer size, drivers of 18-wheelers have a very unique responsibility to their own safety and the safety of the cars around them. If these truck drivers do not follow the law and instead choose to do drugs or drink alcohol, they increase the opportunity for fatal accidents at an alarming rate.
There are three substances that have been identified as contributing to truck crashes. While the statistics around substance abuse and truck drivers might scare you, knowing this information might help you be more aware of your surroundings.
Alcohol
- The legal Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) for truck drivers is .04, half the legal limit of other drivers
- Between one and three percent of all big rig crashes involve some amount of alcohol
- Between 46 and 140 deaths are caused by alcohol and truck drivers annually
Marijuana
- The National Transportation Board says that 12.5 percent of truck accidents resulting in death involve marijuana
- Marijuana can affect reaction time and concentration for up to 24 hours after it is smoked
Methamphetamines
- 85% of surveyed truck drivers admitted that methamphetamines are easy to come by while on the road at truck stops
The truck accident attorneys at Tavss Fletcher want you to know if you or a loved one has been in an accident caused by a truck in southeastern Virginia or northeastern North Carolina, they can manage litigation professionally and with your best interests at heart. Contact us at 757-625-1214 today.