Driver Fatigue a Major Cause of Truck Accidents

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Michael Kaplen has a great blog with tons of brain injury news and information. Back in November, Michael brought my attention to a Penn State study which examined truck accidents in 2004. The study was done to see how allowing truckers to drive 11 consecutive hours (the limit was previously 10) affected crash risk.

According to ScienceDaily.com:

Dr. Paul Jovanis, professor of civil engineering who led the Penn State study, says, "Our analysis of data from three national trucking companies during normal operations in 2004 shows that the crash risk is statistically similar for the first six hours of driving and then increases in significant steps thereafter. The 11th hour has a crash risk more than three times the first hour."

Perhaps the Federal Motor Carrier Association needs to rethink allowing that 11th hour of consecutive driving.