Truck Driver Never Braked
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The Associated Press reported that a van trailing a group of police officers bicycling to raise money for fallen comrades was struck by a freight truck that did not even brake before crashing into the van. Tragically, two law enforcement officers were killed in the crash. Police are continuing their investigation into the wreck to determine why the truck driver did not brake or take any evasive action to avoid the crash.
Truck involved accidents are on the increase and when they happen, they typically involve significant injury and damage.
In 2004, there were a total of 15,264 truck involved accidents in the State of Florida. Of those accidents, 399 resulted in fatalities and 9160 resulted in injuries. With construction on highways increasing, the potential for significant truck wrecks that result in serious personal injuries or death is likely to increase more.
The National Highway Institute reports that the leading causes of truck accidents include:speeding, following too closely, improper lane changing, reckless, driving, driver fatigue, and distraction Federal and state regulations exist that govern the length of time a driver can operate a truck and the number of days the driver can drive. On board global positioniing systems, computers, and other devices can assist in discovering whether these regulations are complied with by truckers and trucking companies.