Commerce does not take a break for major holidays. Accordingly, large trucks are still on the road during the Thanksgiving holiday, when the highways are being used by people traveling to their destinations. Thanksgiving is already a dangerous enough time due to both the congestion and prevalence of drunk driving. Trucks worsen the situation, as many cars need to share the road with large commercial vehicles which can lead to eventual truck crashes. Here are some of the additional dangers that trucks pose on the road during the Thanksgiving holiday.

Fatigued Driving

Some truck drivers may try to take advantage of less busy periods to travel the most possible distance that their shift allows. While they may stay off the roads on the Wednesday prior to and the Sunday after the Thanksgiving holiday, they may be on the road on Thursday and Friday. During this time, the truck driver may be fatigued from doing other things and may not properly rest before getting on the road. Fatigued truck drivers are extremely dangerous because their reflexes do not work as they should. All it takes is for the truck driver to be a split second late in making a critical decision to raise the risks of a crash.

Drunk Driving

Drunk driving risks are at their highest during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. Passenger car drivers often consume excessive amounts of alcohol during a time known as “Blackout Wednesday.”  The same thing may go for truck drivers. Even having a single drink can be extremely dangerous because of the impact that it could have on a truck driver. There is a reason why the allowable blood alcohol content for truck drivers is much lower than it is for those who operate passenger cars. Truck drivers who may have decided to celebrate the holiday with alcohol may still get behind the wheel because their work must still be done.

Distracted Driving

Truck drivers may have their minds in other places on the road on Thanksgiving weekend. They may be away from their family and want to keep in touch. It is difficult to maintain focus when you are asked to work during a holiday weekend. Accordingly, a truck driver may be on their phone or not fully focused on safety when they are behind the wheel. Distracted driving is particularly dangerous for truck drivers because it takes a long amount of time to bring the vehicle to a complete stop when traveling at full speed. Furthermore, truck drivers have more blind spots than passenger car motorists, and they need to check at all times.

Congestion

Truck drivers often do not get to choose when they drive. They are working on a strict schedule, which means that they must still make their deliveries. They can be on the road at a time when it is congested with many passenger cars. Truck drivers are particularly dangerous when roadways are congested. It is difficult enough to drive a truck at any time. It is even harder when there are more cars in the vicinity of a commercial vehicle.

Speeding

Even at points during the Thanksgiving weekend when there are fewer cars on the road, truck drivers may view this as a time when they can travel as many miles as possible during their shift. Federal trucking regulations limiting the time drivers may be behind the wheel still apply during the holiday weekend. Accordingly, truck drivers may speed to maximize the amount of time that they can travel and perhaps have some extra time to themselves on a holiday weekend. Speeding can cause diminished reflexes among truck drivers and increase the possibility of them losing control of their vehicle.

Contact an Albuquerque Truck Crash Lawyer at Buchanan Law Firm, LLC Today for Help with Your Case

If you have been injured in a commercial vehicle crash, an Albuquerque truck crash lawyer at Buchanan Law Firm, LLC can help. The first step that you can take is to fill out our online contact form or call us today at 505-900-3559 to schedule a free consultation with one of our attorneys. Our office is located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and we serve clients in Santa Fe and the surrounding areas.