We want to minimize all traffic accidents, but particularly those involving commercial trucks given their inherent ability to inflict so much more damage. One way to do so is to have a firm grasp of what most commonly causes them in the first place.
Driver Error
In 2009, Oregon commercial truck drivers were held solely responsible for nearly half of all their accidents. A little more than two percent of the accidents had shared responsibility between truck and the other driver.
When the truck driver was to blame, it’s most often because they’re in a hurry. Speeding was the number one cause of Oregon trucking accidents, according to the 2011 Commercial Vehicle Safety Plan Guide published by the Oregon Department of Transportation.
Other reasons hint at being speed-related as well, such as following too closely, failing to yield and improper lane changes.
Equipment Problems
Mechanical failures fall right behind driver error, including brake failures and faulty tires.
While the Oregon report showed brakes as a documented cause of just six accidents, brake problems were the second most common issue detected in safety inspections. In fact, there were 9,579 violations out of 53,328 inspections.
On the federal level, a study sponsored by the Department of Transportation (DOT) found that 29.4 percent of large truck crashes involved brake brake-related issues.
Equipment failures can also include design and manufacturing errors like defective tires or failure to provide reverse-detection warning devices. Equipment failures can also include mechanical issues such as improperly maintained brakes or tires.