In Texas, which leads the nation in the number of deadly big-rig collisions, one out of every 10 accidents involving an 18-wheeler turns deadly. Yet, most drivers of the big rigs, CBS 42 News reports, follow the rules of the road and are conscientious about highway safety. However, an investigation conducted by CBS 42 News discovered that a dangerous minority of truck drivers sometimes take chances that result in often deadly consequences. Some truckers were discovered driving longer hours than allowed, under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or carrying heavy or unbalanced loads. The growing number of trucks on Texas roadways is at an all-time high, and even more large haulers are now driving from Mexico as part of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) with the U.S. Austin defense attorney Broadus Spivey has represented both sides of the trucking industry. “It’s trucker alley, and it makes me fearful it's death alley,” he says. “I happened to count out my window–23 semis within my line of vision.” "I think the number one problem is driver inattention,” Spivey says. “Probably, the second is lack of adequate training, and the third is defective equipment."
0 Comments