New Study Shows 1 In 5 Trucks On US Roads Are Unsafe & 200,000 Violate Safety Regs
A new study conducted by the American Association for Justice (AAJ) found that one out of every five trucks on US roads were unsafe and that more than 200,000 trucks violate federal safety regulations including bald tires on rigs, malfunctioning brakes, hauls that exceeded weight limits, drivers with drug or alcohol dependencies and insufficient training of drivers. These violations contribute to nearly 4,000 deaths and 80,000 serious injuries associated with trucking accidents in the US every year.
AAJ study shows startling statistics
According to the study, AAJ researchers reviewed millions of data files on the safety performance of U.S. trucking companies through the Motor Carrier Management Information System (MCMIS), which is maintained by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). What it found was startling:
- Trucks are involved in 12% of all motor vehicle fatalities – even though they make up less than 4% of all US passenger vehicles
- Fatalities involving trucks are 56% higher than for all motor vehicles combined
- Small companies with fleets of 10 or fewer trucks accounted for 87% of safety violations
2009 roadside inspections show 1 in 5 trucks not safe
In addition to the above, the study points to the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance's (CVSA) conducting of comprehensive roadside inspections across the nation in 2009. According to the AAJ, although inspections were announced four months in advance, one in five trucks failed inspection and were taken out of service – a sign that many companies simply don't do, or care, enough to minimize deaths and serious injuries.
Top 20 states with highest number of motor carrier violations
Finally, the study ranked the states with the highest number of motor carrier violations in 2009. Here's the top 20:
- West Virginia
- North Dakota
- Nebraska
- Vermont
- Iowa
- Montana
- Delalware
- Idaho
- Arkansas
- Connecticut
- Kentucky
- Minnesota
- North Carolina
- Oregon
- Indiana
- Mississippi
- Wisconsin
- South Dakota
- New Hampshire
- South Carolina
As stated above, truck accidents cause more than 4,000 deaths and 80,000 serious injuries associated with trucking accidents in the US every year. If you've been involved in a truck accident, it's important to know that you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries if the vehicle, its driver or the trucking company was negligent. Free truck accident case reviews are available to everyone.
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