Houston Truck Accident Lawyer

Substance Abuse and Driving

Posted on 26. Feb, 2010 by Admin in Truck Accident

In today’s world, alcohol and drug testing is a part of life in the trucking industry. An commercially licensed driver (CDL licenses) are subject to testing programs, as are the companies that employ them.

Even so, a study conducted by the insurance Institute for Traffic Safety showed that, for interstate tractor-trailer drivers, 15% tested positive for marijuana, 12% tested positive for non-prescribed stimulants, 5% tested positive for prescription stimulants, 2% tested positive for cocaine but fewer than 1% had alcohol in their systems.

Even so, a driver can still be impaired by alcohol even if they are not legally intoxicated. Even at low blood content levels, alcohol reduces reaction times and will slow the decision making process. In recognition of this, the Federal government prohibits mass transit workers, truck drivers, railroad workers, marine employees and airline pilots from operating a vehicle with a BAC (blood alcohol concentration) at or above 0.02%.

At one time, alcohol abuse and truck driving was a prevalent and severe problem. However, this has decreased with driver intoxication being more effectively controlled by strict monitoring and regulation enforcement by the Department of Transportation.

Recently, statistics have indicated that truck accidents, related to alcohol use, stand at only 1-3%. The greater problem is attributed to driver fatigue which accounts for over 30% of all truck accidents. Driving continuously without proper rest periods would seem to be an area where stricter monitoring and regulation would be required.

Another big problem lies in the fact that most truck drivers feel that “drugged driving” is somehow safer than drunk driving. Of course, marijuana can also affect perception, reaction time and concentration. These effects can last up to 24 hours after smoking, which is a far greater timeframe than the effects of alcohol impairment.

The National Transportation Safety Board issued a report in 1990 which studied 182 truck accident fatalities. Their finding indicated that 12.5% of those accidents were the result of marijuana use.

The New England Journal of Medicine also issued a report which indicated that out of drivers stopped for recklessness on the road (without alcohol in their systems), 45% had marijuana in their systems and 25% had cocaine in their systems.

Please note that this article is for informational purposes only and is not intended as legal advice.

Substance abuse convictions may not deter a driver from continuing to place motorists in danger. If you’re a victim of this type of reckless behavior, don’t hesitate to contact the South Texas truck accident lawyers Todd Elias and Steven J. Gordon in Houston, Texas.

Tags: CDL license, DUI accidents, traffic safety, truck accident lawyer, truck accidents