There are many different types of vehicles on the roads in Kentucky each day. People drive sedans, SUVs, pick-up trucks, delivery vans, small trucks, semi-trucks, motorcycles and other types of vehicles. It is important that all drivers on the roads drive safely to help to prevent car accidents from occurring. While this is true for all drivers on the roads, it is especially true for truck drivers.
Semi-trucks are much larger than most other vehicles on the roads. When they are involved in truck accidents with other vehicles, they can cause significant damage and cause serious injuries. This is true even if they are not travelling at high rates of speed. To help ensure that truck drivers are driving safely, there are a number of federal laws that truck drivers need to follow.
These rules include restrictions on the number of hours that they can drive to prevent drowsy driving. There are also special rules for the amount of alcohol they can consume before and while driving.
On-duty truck drivers cannot consume any alcohol
Truck drivers are not allowed to be under the influence of any alcohol or drugs while on-duty. They also are prohibited from consuming alcohol four hours before they begin being on-duty. Additionally, they cannot even possess alcohol while on-duty. If the driver is under the influence or consumed alcohol within four hours of driving, they must be placed out-of-service for 24 hours. This out-of-service must be reported to the truck driver’s employer and state officials.
There are many truck drivers who drive trucks though Kentucky. They play a vital role in the economy by transporting many different goods to and from the state. However, the drivers really need to drive safely and being under the influence can make that difficult to do. If truck drivers have consumed alcohol within four hours prior to driving and cause an accident, they may be required to compensate the victims in addition to the potential penalties to their license. Experienced attorneys understand the potential devastation of truck accidents and may be a useful resource.
