If you have ever been on I-285 in Cobb County, you have probably noticed the long line of trucks attempting to merge onto I-20 near Atlanta. Maybe you have worried about passing these trucks safely and avoiding a collision. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration compiled a "Report to Congress on Large Truck Crash Causation Study." The study examined 967 trucking accidents and found that poor driving decisions accounted for 87% of the reasons for the truck crash. The most common causes for the accidents were legal drug use, speeding, unfamiliar roadways, careless observation of the surrounding traffic and roadways, and fatigue. Defective brakes were the most common mechanical problem associated with the semi truck accidents.
The findings were similar in accidents involving a truck and a car. Interestingly, driver fatigue was cited as a reason for an automobile driver's accident twice as often as for a commercial truck driver. As you know, truck drivers must keep driving logs and abide by strict rules regulating the number of hours they may be on the highway. 
In Georgia, as in other states, semi truck drivers must have a commercial drivers license which requires knowledge in the areas of transporting cargo or hazardous materials and learning to safely drive and control an 18 wheeler. The commercial driver licensing standards reduce the risk of Georgia trucking accidents. No matter what type of vehicle you are driving, safe highway driving requires focus and an alert driver - something we all know and sometimes ignore. The next time you hit the road put down the cell phone, buckle up and keep both hands on the wheel for a safer driving experience.
