Operating a large commercial truck requires far more skill than commuting to work in a smaller passenger car. Skill is only half the battle. Unlike most passenger vehicle drivers, truckers spend long periods of time on the road. For this reason alone, they are far more likely to fall asleep at the wheel.
Technology may help prevent accidents involving tired truckers. One emerging system, called Lytx, has already proven to effectively monitor the safety habits of truck drivers.
How Lytx works
If you’ve never heard of Lytx before, now is the time to familiarize yourself with it. Not only does it collect data through video telematics to help improve safety, it can also show a driver’s behavior at the time of a crash.
In its State of the Data presentation – which was presented at the American Trucking Association Management Conference and Exhibition in October 2018 – Lytx collected data based on 100 billion miles traveled in large commercial trucks between June and August of 2018.
The data found a connection between driver behavior and the likelihood of being involved in a collision. It pinpointed the top ten driving behaviors commonly observed in truck cabs. These included, in order of frequency:
- Driver not wearing a seatbelt
- Late response
- Following distance of >1 to <2 seconds
- Smoking
- Following distance of >2 to <3 seconds:
- Exceeding speed limit
- Drinking or eating while driving
- Other violations such as driving over centerline, blocking an intersection, or driving on a shoulder
- Using handheld device while driving
- Following distance of less than <1 second
Most of these driving behaviors had declined since the same period in 2017, but following distance of >1 to <2 seconds, exceeding the posted speed limit, and other violations increased in 2018.
Lytx data also found that within a 90-day period, truckers displayed the following behaviors:
- Collision
- Blank stare
- Drowsy driving
- Driver not wearing a seatbelt
- Late response
- Failed to keep an out (which means that the driver cut it close to another vehicle, person, or object)
- Near collision
- Near collision (which was unavoidable)
- Aggressive driving
- Falling asleep at the wheel
Wednesday, particularly between 2-4 a.m., was documented as having the most collisions out of any day of the week. Fridays had the highest rate of near-collisions.
On any given day, the time span with the most collisions was between 11 p.m. - 5 a.m., when drivers are most likely to fall asleep at the wheel. Most near-collisions happened between 1-5 p.m.
Involved in a truck accident? Learn how this data can be crucial to your claim.
After a truck accident, the data and footage collected through video telematics may be a crucial building block to your claim. Truck accidents are often highly complex cases that involve multiple parties and insurers. When evidence is limited, trucking companies can deny any wrongdoing on their part or the part of their drivers. When solid proof is available – showing that a truck driver was distracted, impaired, or tired – there is no disputing your claim.
That’s why you need an experienced Ohio truck accident attorney on your side, fighting for you every step of the way. Attorney Scott Smith and his highly skilled legal team are dedicated to helping injury victims in greater Columbus, Ohio pursue justice.
Contact the Smith Law Office today to schedule a free case evaluation.
