Operation Safe Driver Week scheduled for October

On behalf of Steven Crell of Steve Crell Law posted in Truck Accidents on Monday, August 8, 2016.

A vast majority of large truck accidents in Indiana and around the country are caused by unsafe driving behavior, according to a study by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. The agency found that 88 percent of large truck accidents and 93 percent of passenger vehicle accidents could be blamed on driver behavior.

To combat unsafe driver behavior and reduce crashes, the Commercial Vehicle Safety Administration has scheduled Operation Safe Driver Week for the week beginning Oct. 16. During this period, law enforcement agencies around the country will heighten their focus on unsafe driving behaviors by commercial truck drivers as well as passenger vehicle drivers. In addition to heightened legal enforcement of safe driving practices, Operation Safe Driver Week will include educational outreach.

Some of the unsafe driving behaviors that are being targeted during Operation Safe Driver Week include distracted driving, unsafe following distance, failure to use seat belts, speeding and improper lane changes. The goal of Operation Safe Driver Week is to improve the safety of commercial motor vehicle drivers as well as other motorists who are driving near commercial motor vehicles.

A lot of semi-truck accidents are caused by truck drivers who have been operating their vehicles for many hours without stopping for rest. Others are the result of unsafe lane changes or drunk driving. An attorney can often assist an injured victim in seeking compensation for the losses that have been sustained. There may be multiple defendants in a truck accident claim including the truck driver and the truck driver’s employer.