Being a passenger in a vehicle can be freeing in some ways. You don’t necessarily have to pay attention to the traffic, you can use your phone and you could even fall asleep if you want to do so. However, it also puts you in a precarious position since you completely rely on other drivers to keep you safe.
You may agree with other motorists who believe that staying safe is especially important around 18-wheelers. The size and weight of these vehicles makes them a formidable presence on Illinois’s roadways. You probably already know that factors such as distraction, impairment and fatigue contribute to a large number of these accidents, but other, lesser-known factors also contribute to a large number of crashes involving trucks.
How the days of the week play a part
When researches looked at when accidents occur most often for truck drivers with Monday through Friday schedules, they found something surprising. You may think that either Monday or Friday would be the deadliest day of the week since it’s either the beginning or the end of the workweek, but you would be wrong.
The deadliest day of the week for accidents involving trucks turned out to be Thursday. Friday is the second deadliest day. It makes sense. By Thursday, wear and tear affects many truckers. Due to fatigue, they may not pay as close attention. As for the time of day, most of the fatal truck accidents occur from 6 a.m. through 3 p.m.
Location, location, location
If you are like many other people, you may assume that most fatal truck accidents occur on freeways and interstates. Actually, only around 30 percent occur on those roads. Another 14 percent occur on minor roadways. Major roadways actually see the most fatal crashes involving 18-wheelers at around 53 percent. Research shows that the speeds on major roads contribute to this percentage.
The truth is fatal accidents can occur any day, anywhere and anytime
The information above may make you think twice about what day, where and what time truck accidents occur, but that does not mean that they can’t occur outside those parameters. The other factor in a large portion of truck accidents is passenger car drivers. While truck drivers do cause accidents, it appears that the other vehicles cause the majority. This means that as a passenger, you need to remain vigilant when it comes to putting your life into the hands of someone else.
If you do end up in an accident involving a truck, you may be able to pursue compensation for your injuries and other damages from a variety of sources depending on the circumstances.
