Ohio Truck Accidents: Texting Truck Drivers 23 Times More Likely to Crash
A recent fatal Ohio truck accident on I-70 in Columbus, Ohio underscores the increased risks and potentially deadly consequences of Ohio truck accidents and truckers who text when driving.
While investigators are still unsure of what caused the driver of a tractor-trailer driver involved in an Ohio truck accident to fail to notice that traffic was slowing down because of an Ohio auto accident, and then collide with several vehicles at the end of a 4-mile backup, killing two women, it does appear that the driver of the truck was distracted. Unfortunately, Ohio truck drivers who text put the lives of everyone on a highway at risk.
Study Shows Truck Drivers Who Text Far More Likely to Crash
In 2009, a study was conducted by researchers at the Virginia Tech Transportation Institution in which researchers installed video cameras in the cabs of more than 100 long-haul trucks to analyze driver behaviors over an 18 month period. What researchers found was that drivers who dial their cell phones are 5.9 times more likely to be involved in a crash, drivers who reach for their electronic devices are 6.7 times more likely to be in an accident, and drivers who text are 23 times more likely to crash or be involved in a near-accident, than drivers who aren’t distracted.
Director of the Institute’s Center for Truck and Bus Safety, Rich Hanowski, who oversaw the study, said that researchers determined that truck drivers who texted took their eyes off the road for nearly five full seconds. That is enough time for a truck traveling at normal highway speeds to travel more than the length of a football field, creating what Hanowski called a “universe of risk.”
Ohio Truck Driver Texting Banned
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration banned texting for commercial truck drivers, and implemented stiff penalties for any truck driver who is caught texting, including disqualification, fines of up to $2,750 for drivers, and penalties of up to $11,000 for employers who allow their drivers to text. Last June, Ohio became the 39th state to implement a texting ban for all drivers, not just truck drivers, implementing fines of $150 to $300 for repeat texting violations.
About Wright & Schulte LLC
Wright & Schulte LLC, a personal injury firm, is dedicated to the belief that America’s legal system should work for the people. Every day, the attorneys of Wright & Schulte LLC stand up for the rights of people who have been injured in Ohio truck accidents by the negligence or misconduct of others. Whether it is a personal injury due to a highway accident, medical malpractice, product liability, nursing home abuse, a construction accident, wrongful death, or any other lawsuits we are always here to answer any questions and help in any way we can. It costs nothing to talk to us, so schedule a free initial consultation. There is no obligation. You can have the advice of a respected legal professional. Contact our office at yourohiolegalhelp.com or by phone at (937)-222-7477 to set up your free appointment.
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