Truck drivers and commercial vehicle operators must be drug- and alcohol-free when they operate a vehicle. Regardless of the numerous regulations surrounding this issue, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) still reports that about a third of all fatal truck accidents are caused by impairments related to alcohol and drug use. Drugs and alcohol affect a driver’s ability to drive safely due to how they affect cognitive and physical abilities.
Truck accidents caused by drivers under the influence are so devastating because these trucks weigh up to 80,000 pounds and coast on the road at up to 80 miles per hour. The only reprieve for victims and their loved ones is that they may be entitled to compensation if the driver is proven to have caused an accident under the influence. To help you understand this issue in more depth, we will look at the link between drug use and truck accidents.
How Common is Drug Use Among Truck Drivers?
Various studies suggest that a quarter to a third of surveyed truck drivers say they have driven while drunk or under the influence of different drugs. The main reasons cited for drug use among truck drivers are the high stresses of the trucking industry, long hours, and availability. Studies have found that different drugs are easily accessible at truck stops.
Understanding this, the next question becomes, which are the most common drugs truck drivers consume apart from alcohol? The main most common ones are marijuana, amphetamines, and cocaine.
Marijuana
Marijuana is so common because of its legalization across the various states that truck drivers typically drive through. It is known to produce effects similar to those of consuming alcohol, so it impairs a driver’s ability to drive safely in similar ways.
Amphetamines
Truck drivers have been abusing amphetamines since these drugs and trucking have existed. Many drivers who use them say they do so to stay awake on long drives and due to long periods of isolation. Their main effect is reduced reaction time and hallucinations, both of which lead to trucking accidents.
Cocaine
Cocaine is illegal, but it has remained relatively popular and accessible among truck drivers. As with amphetamines, many drivers who abuse it say they do so to stay awake. Cocaine can cause hallucinations, aggressive driving, and speeding due to a user’s inability to judge time, distance, and speed.
The Impact of Alcohol and Drugs on Truck Drivers and Their Roles in Truck Accidents
Drugs and alcohol are linked to truck accidents in other ways, mainly to do with how they impact cognitive and physical abilities.
Impaired Judgment and Decision-Making
Drivers have to make numerous decisions on the road, some of them in a fraction of a second, if they want to keep themselves, their trucks, and other road users safe.
Alcohol can impair a driver’s decision-making and judgment, putting them in serious jeopardy. They can also cause the driver to exhibit dangerous behaviors such as speeding and failure to obey traffic signs and other road users.
Reduced Reaction Times
The second way is reduced reaction times. In addition to making speedy decisions about what they are seeing or experiencing on the road, drivers have to also react to different situations. These situations can include unexpected situations related to other road users, changing road conditions, or traffic signals.
Fast reaction times are also crucial for stopping a vehicle in time or making the right decision to prevent an accident. Remember that a truck’s weight makes it more difficult to maneuver so drivers must make decisions early and quickly to avoid accidents.
Impact on Coordination and Motor Skills
A driver’s coordination, motor skills, and balance can also be affected by drugs and alcohol. Drivers under the influence can have a difficult time staying in the correct lane, avoiding obstacles, and maneuvering a vehicle.
Drugs and Alcohol Can Amplify Fatigue
Drugs and alcohol amplify fatigue, especially as they start wearing down. We know fatigue is a common cause of truck accidents and is common if a driver has been on the road for long periods.
Fatigue already presents a significant risk for accidents, and this risk is amplified if the fatigue is due to drug or alcohol use. It is very common for drivers under the influence to fall asleep behind the wheel, for example.
Drugs and Alcohol Impair Vision and Perception
Visual clarity and perception are crucial for safe driving, which is why driving in bad weather is so dangerous. If a driver has difficulty focusing, blurred vision, or impaired depth perception due to alcohol and drug use, they might have difficulty judging distances and reacting to potential hazards in time.
Determining Liability for Truck Accidents Linked to Drug and Alcohol Use
Because it is difficult to determine how a person might react to even the smallest amount of drugs or alcohol – made worse by someone using multiple substances – some states have a zero-tolerance for driving under the influence. For this reason, a driver driving under the influence who causes a truck accident will be held liable for the accident and the damages they have caused.
In some cases, however, the company can also be held liable if they hired a driver with a DUI record, did not do thorough background checks, did not assess their drivers as expected, or if they let a driver drive for them knowing they had alcohol and substance use issues.
In all these cases, you can seek damages for injuries or wrongful death of a loved one. Understand that these civil suits sometimes run alongside criminal cases, especially if the accident caused serious harm or one or multiple fatalities.
Truck driving is already dangerous enough without drivers being under the influence. Drugs and alcohol increase the risk of accidents in different ways, which explains why states have strict laws prohibiting driving under the influence. These accidents often cause catastrophic injuries or fatalities, and you might be entitled to compensation if you have been involved in one or if a loved one has been killed in one.
If you have, you can visit and talk to our lawyers at our Los Angeles, California, Nevada, or Texas offices. You can also contact us for a free consultation using the contacts provided on our website.
