Federal regulations on truck drivers impose guidelines on how many hours truck drivers should be spending on the road and how many miles should be driven. New safety training programs are popping up all over the nation, especially in Texas, where truck driving accidents are, unfortunately, all too common occurrences. Still, despite these efforts, truck drivers are pushing the limits and working without an adequate night’s sleep.

The Effects of Drowsy Driving

During sleep, the body replenishes many of its nutrients and revitalizes energy. It has been linked to reducing the risk of serious health issues, such as preventing colds and flu all the way up to cardiovascular disease. Those who are chronically deprived of sleep could be suffering from a form of sleep disorder. However, for truck drivers, erratic sleeping behaviors and patterns are usually the largest cause for the deprivation.

These are some of the negative side effects of driving drowsy:

• Reduced alertness
• Decreased memory capacity
• Higher amount of stress
• Reduced attentiveness
• Increased risk of accident

Truck drivers face enormous pressure from their employers to meet deadlines, which is why they often push themselves beyond the limits. Also, truck driver salary is modest; some drivers may want to try to clock in more hours to add more to their pay.

Precautionary Measures to Take

According to The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), drowsy driving has been the cause of 100, 000 collisions, with more than 70, 000 injuries. Of those, there have been more than 1, 500. While the statistics are not quite as deadly as drunk driving accidents, the effects of driving are just as dangerous for everyone on the road. That is why it is important to safeguard yourself when you take to the road.

While this piece of advice may be a given, be sure to keep an eye out of your surroundings as you are driving. If you notice a truck or another vehicle swaying or otherwise driving erratically, do your best to alert law enforcement. That driver could be drowsy or even driving drunk. You will want to do your part to prevent any possible any injuries. Also, if you have been injured, know that you have options for moving forward and helping you find any compensation you need to recover.

Reach out to Daspit Law Firm today to learn more about your options. Our San Antonio personal injury lawyer is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to speak with you. Call us now!