NTSB’s New Agenda Has Useful Lessons For Preventing Truck Accidents

Preventing truck accidents

Preventing truck accidents

If you think that the new trucks and semi-trucks, well-equipped with the advanced security systems do not suffer from accidents, below are the eye openers.

1. 4000 deaths in the U.S. occurred because of the large truck crashes, in the year 2013.

2. While the truck crashes have been decreasing gradually over the past years, there is an apparent increase in the accident.

3. Inspections reveal that around 5 % of drivers and 21% of the trucks suffer from the defects caused by issues other than those checked by a service.

4. NTSB regards truck travel safety as one of the major problems that require safety-related improvements.

Any economy relies heavily on the commercial and semi-trucks, which are so critical in providing food, medicines and other essential supplies to every nook and corner of a country and the U.S. is no exception. But as the 18 wheeler semi-trucks possess the humongous size and have much greater weight, size and other physical properties in comparison to any other vehicle, they are the more significant threat. The passenger vehicles, commuters and all those who pass by the same road or highway face this threat and security hazard. While the Houston 18 wheeler lawyers are always there to help, we do not want an accident to happen.

The NTSB efforts towards ensuring safety

There are some stakeholders and other issues that involve trucking. These include the companies who own and operate the large sized vehicles, the drivers of the semi-trucks, the regulating and the oversight organizations and agencies and others. NTSB has a diverse and collaborative approach towards solving the problem, and its efforts involve all the concerned parties, to get proper and fruitful results.

NTSB has been meticulous in its problem-solving approach earlier as well. It has been contacting and reviewing the efforts made by the FMCSA or the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, NHTSA or National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and the other regulators and agencies to increase their vigil over the drivers, their vehicles and the operators of the cargo service.

NTSB initially checks the security related issues relating to both drivers and their semi-trucks. The organization also sees to it that the banned and disbarred truck operators do not again start the service under any other company name.

Evident improvements

The NTSB’s security-related agendas, both new and old, have bought is several improvements and have managed to decrease the accident rates. Some of these include:

a. Creation and implementation of the scientific service hours so that the drivers are not affected by the physiological and psychological health conditions, which can impact their performance while driving.

b. Use of the next gen. logging devices (electronic) that ensure that the drivers get adequate rest and can drive the trucks in an attentive and safe way.

c. Screening the drivers by diseases and health disorders such as sleep apnea, hearing and eyesight issues and other health conditions.

d. Testing the drivers by substance abuse, for instance, drugs and alcohol.

e. Conducting the pre-trip checks and inspections. Checking the brake and security system adjustments and ensuring the maintenance of the automatic slack adjuster.

f. Buying new trucks that have all the advanced safety systems well incorporated.

Issues are still to be addressed

The NTSB suggestions further give more teeth to the truck safety management system. The organization furthers stresses that:

– New technological upgrades, including the tire-pressure monitoring system, the collision warning system, the rollover security and stability control system, and the lane0departure warning system should also be incorporated in the truck security system.

– Certain performance standards should be created towards the front and side systems, so that the passenger vehicles are better protected from the vehicle mishaps and system failures.

The new NTSB agenda is not going to be the last one. Soon more provisions and suggestions will be created by the premier agency that broadens the scope of safety and security, and also pay attention towards issues relating to highways, driver compliance with driving and security norms, and others.

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Greg Baumgartner handles truck accident lawsuits for victims of truck accidents in Texas. He is an expert Texas Truck Accident Lawyer with an exemplary track record.