Top 10 Causes of Semi Truck Accidents

As the interstates and highways continue to become more populated, we can expect a rise in motor vehicle accidents. Even though trucking companies have improved their safety training, new statistics show an alarming rate of truck crashes. For years, news items have focused on driver fatigue as playing a major role in these incidents.

As a professional in over the road trucking, it does not matter how many years or millions of miles one has accumulated. According to the 2006 Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s report, about one in 20 drivers will be involved in an accident. The study also shows that there are roughly 141,000 truck crashes every year, and 77,000 of these was the direct fault of the truck driver.

Many factors come into play concerning truck accidents. The media loves to portray the trucker as a death machine gunning down the highway. Driver fatigue has been mentioned many times over, but now we can see the facts.

Top 10 Causes of Truck Accidents

Prescription Drug Use 26%
Traveling Too Fast 23%
Unfamiliar with Roadway 22%
Over-the-counter Drug Use 18%
Inadequate Surveillance 14%
Fatigue 13%
Illegal Maneuver 9%
Exterior Distraction 8%
Inadequate Evasive Action 7%
Aggressive Driving Behavior 7%

Even though truck driver training has improved somewhat, there appears to be the need for continual education concerning medications. I am always amazed when I hear about a truck accident and the culprit turns out to be something as simple as cough medicine! Truck driving schools and trucking companies use a three minute video during their classes showing the dangers of drugs and driving. This 180-second video is basically useless. There needs to be a continual reiteration of the facts to the drivers. And, the facts are that medications and truck driving jobs just do not mix.

Aubrey Allen Smith is the author of the Truth About Trucking. With 29 years in the transportation industry, Allen has helped many new, inexperienced drivers discover the truth about the trucking business. If you are considering a career in trucking, learn how to avoid the scams before you begin! Please visit http://www.truthabouttrucking.com today, and learn the truth.

There are literally hundreds of truck driving schools across the country, each with different programs. As with any business, there are good ones and there are bad ones. But you have to know what to look for in a trucking school.
There are essentially three different types of truck driver training programs. The first is a private school, the second is a public institution and the third is a training program run by a motor carrier.