Ohio cracking down on aggressive truck driving

For the most part, truck drivers do their job with safety foremost in their minds. Unfortunately, there are some truck drivers out there who drive recklessly, leading to car wrecks, injuries, and fatalities in the state of Ohio. In November 2014, an ABC 6/FOX 28 News team took to the roads to investigate. What they found might make you nervous about getting behind the wheel.

Ohio Highway Patrol Nails Truck Drivers for Speeding & Tailgating

One of the most prevalent out of the offenses the news teams – who had paired with the Ohio State Patrol for the Investigation – uncovered amongst truck drivers was speeding. During the investigation, countless truck drivers were pulled over and ticketed for speeding, and from the air, the Ohio State Patrol Chopper captured shots of an 18-wheeler driving too fast. Another common offense witnessed was trucks following other vehicles too closely.

Driving a Truck While Impaired a Serious Safety Risk

Another thing that the Ohio State Patrol and news teams discovered was that a number of truck drivers were driving while intoxicated or otherwise impaired. In addition to driving while under the influence, distracted driving is also a burgeoning problem in the state. An example of such an incident is truck driver Michael Craycraft who admitted to “having a six pack” of beer in September of 2014 after he had been pulled over for swerving.

Too many drivers are talking or texting on their cell phones while attempting to operate the large vehicles, which is against federal regulations.

Too Many Accidents Caused by Truck Drivers

Since 2013, these alarming statistics have been revealed.

At least 15 injurious or fatal accidents caused by truckers running red lights
40 cases of truckers failing to control their rigs
Over 100 cases of trucks tailgating in Ohio

According to the Ohio Department of Public Safety, in 2013 there were 19,625 medium and heavy trucks involved in accidents on Ohio roads.

While accidents involving truck drivers aren’t always the fault of the truck drivers themselves – Bill Graves with the American Trucking Association states that two-thirds of truck accidents are caused by a vehicle other than the truck itself – truck drivers need to exercise more caution while on the road. Failing to do so can be deadly.

The report closes by reminding drivers to call #677 if they notice aggressive driving by a trucker in Ohio. This can alert police to the reckless behavior so they can, hopefully, stop it before it leads to a deadly accident.

Take Action if You’ve Been in an Accident Caused by Truck Driver Negligence

If you’ve been in an accident in Ohio caused by the irresponsible actions of a truck driver, then you need an attorney who can help you recover compensation for your injuries. You may file a claim against a trucking company that employs the driver.

At Kisling, Nestico & Redick, our attorneys are ready to begin building your case today! To start receiving your free case consultation today, call us now at 800-HURT-NOW or fill out the form on our contact page to set up your consultation.