Kentucky roads are full of drivers coming and going at all hours. Semi-trucks are part of the equation, and with the weight these vehicles carry, getting into an accident with one may prove catastrophic.
The government regulates the length of time a trucker may operate a semi before resting. Drivers have looked for ways around these restrictions, but the advancement in electronic monitoring makes it more difficult. The government now may ease some regulations in a way that all drivers should understand. The staff here at the Law Office of Rhonda Hatfield-Jeffers, PLLC, want to ensure you know the dangers tired driving poses to all drivers, especially those who operate semi-trucks.
Current rules
The hours of service rules established by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration require truckers to take mandatory breaks. Currently, those who take long hauls (over 100 miles) may only drive 11 hours out of every 14 hours. After this, drivers must take a 10-hour break. These time-frames allow truckers to sleep and become fully recharged.
Proposed rules
The government is giving drivers more flexibility under the proposed change. A trucker may now stop the clock for up to three hours in a 14-hour shift. This pause may help ease driver fatigue and allow them to rest while waiting for loads or inspection stations. The 10-hour mandatory off time still holds after this 14-hour shift.
Driver fatigue plagues the roads, both behind the wheel of semis and cars. The resulting accidents may not occur with a few more hours of shut-eye. The new regulations for truckers may relax some restrictions, but they aim to help drivers create a rest schedule that may benefit all who take to the road. For more insight into this and other traffic accidents, visit our website.
