There has been a lot of focus on HOS (Hours of Service) and EOBR (Electronic On Board Recorders), both legislative acts aimed at reducing driver fatigue. However, fatigue is not the only, or even the biggest, cause of commercial vehicle accidents. In fact, the Department of Transportation (DOT) found that fatigue accounted for crashes just 1.4% of the time, and 60% of the time no driver was at fault. So, what other factors are we not considering here?

Well, here’s a quick list of crash causes found by the DOT:

Poor vehicle maintenance. This can lead to issues such as tire blowouts, brake problems, engine failures, etc.

Poor training. While most drivers have received training, there is no national standard for entry-level training. Many crashes are caused by improper truck maneuvering, such as turning and passing through intersections.

Other drivers. As distracted driving and cell phone use become a larger issue, truckers have to share the road with more and more bad drivers.

Road debris. Objects on the road can cause drivers to swerve or get a flat tire.

Poor road maintenance. Road damage such as potholes can damage tires and shocks, as well as shift cargo.

Shifting cargo. This can cause changes in weight distribution and driving dynamics.

Vehicles stopped on the road. Whether a car has broken down, an accident has occurred or traffic has suddenly come to a stop, commercial truck drivers caught off guard may not have enough time or distance to bring their big rig to a stop.

While there are a lot of reasons for truck driver crashes, as well as a lot of legislation attempting to prevent commercial vehicle crashes, the reality is that we all just need to drive safer and saner. Keeping a safe distance, respecting other vehicles on the road, avoiding distractions, resisting road rage and following all the traffic laws in place will help make our national highway system safer.