Truck Accident Safety: Roadside Inspections
Written by Cooper & Friedman PLLC on August 23, 2016
Truck accident safety is a serious concern for passengers and drivers alike. Large trucks were involved in more than 3,660 deaths that occurred last year on the United States roadways, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Trucks weigh 20 to 30 times as much as typical passenger cars, making smaller vehicles larger targets for serious truck accidents including fatalities. Unfortunately, the design of commercial trucks causes a significant difference in braking (when compared to smaller passenger vehicles). This combination of braking difficulties, weight loads, and driver inconsistencies has led to the significant impact of serious truck accidents on the roadways.
Because of the truck accident safety concerns described above, it is very important for all commercial truck drivers to go through the required roadside inspections. These checkups are crucial for minimizing risk and maintaining safety standards for truck drivers.
As truck accident attorneys, we’re very aware of the serious dangers involved in truck accidents, especially for those traveling in passenger cars and motorcycles. Based on our work, we’ve created a list that details the reasoning for roadside inspections, and the benefits they offer to all drivers on the roadways.
5 Facts About Truck Accident Safety and Roadside Inspections
- Brake violations make up the largest percentage of out-of-service citations during roadside inspections, according to United World Transportation.
- Law enforcement officers inspect the following areas during a roadside inspection: driver’s license, registration, low air warning device, pushrod travel, brake linings and drums, air loss rate, and tractor protective systems, to name a few. All of these are documented and/or performed appropriately to pass the inspection.
- Law enforcement officers are not required to meet a certain quota for citations, but they must meet a certain quota for inspections. This means that they have to write a minimum number of inspections in a set period of time in order to keep their licensure up to date. This is understandable given that these officers are charged with working to protect every driver on the roadway.
- Inspections usually take about 30 minutes to one hour. These vary depending on differing levels of inspection. Levels one to three are the most common, and a level one inspection is the most thorough and detailed.
- Drivers or vehicles are not permitted to continue driving if either was placed out of service for any reason. These violations could range from 90 days of disqualification to more than 10 years. These violations come with fines that also range from $300 to more than $3,000.
Roadside inspections are extremely important for the safety of all drivers and passengers on the roadways. While these inspections may seem lengthy and invasive, they are especially necessary for increasing truck accident safety on the roadways.
Truck Accident Law Firm Offers Free Consultations
While any type of vehicle accident can be serious, truck accidents tend to be particularly dangerous. If you or someone you love is ever the victim of a truck accident in Kentucky or Indiana, the truck accident attorneys at the Cooper and Friedman law firm can help.
We have an A+ BBB rating and over 45 combined years of legal experience fighting for the rights of injury victims including those in truck accidents. For a free case consultation with a truck accident attorney, call 502-459-7555 now.