According to the director of the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP), Col. David Brierton, the FHP will be participating in this year’s Operation Safe Driver. This annual campaign will be taking place this year from October 16th through the 22nd. The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles reports that the event is nationally organized and is being put by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance. During this time, law enforcement will be targeting drivers of commercial and passenger vehicles to ensure that the vehicles and the drivers are meeting federal safety standards.
Nearly 90 percent of fatal trucking accidents in West Palm Beach and elsewhere that involve a commercial truck are caused by driver error. During this safe driving campaign, troopers from the FHP will be out combing our roadways in search of dangerous drivers. They’ll be targeting these drivers by performing driver safety inspections on commercial trucks and targeting dangerous driving habits on Florida roadways.
Our Broward County car accident attorneys understand how dangerous traffic accidents with large vehicles can be. During Operation Safe Driver, members of the FHP will be cracking down on these drivers and will be taking aggressive enforcement action against drivers of commercial trucks, passenger buses and passenger vehicles. Raising awareness of the dangers that these vehicles present has been proven effective in increase roadway safety.
“Activities such as Operation Safe Driver have had a noticeable effect,” said Brierton.
Traffic accidents with large trucks and with commercial vehicles can oftentimes end fatally. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were nearly 3,500 people killed in U.S. roadways in 2009 because of accidents involving these large vehicles. Another 74,000 people were injured in these types of accidents. According to state statistics, there were more than 295,500 large trucks involved in traffic accidents throughout the year.
Of the people who were killed in these types of accidents in 2009:
-More than 75 percent of fatalities occurred to the occupants of the other vehicles.
-Roughly 15 percent occurred to those who were occupants in the truck.
-Approximately 10 percent occurred to those who were nonoccupants.
It’s quite clear that occupants of passenger vehicles are more vulnerable than any other party involved in a car accident with a large truck. The size, weight and force carried by these large vehicles make them deadly. With the proper knowledge and safe driving habits, we can all do our part to help reduce these risks. Remember to be cautious around these large vehicles, stay out of their blind spots and to allow them plenty of room on our roadways. There’s no reason to travel too closely and to flirt with danger. Be alert, be cautious and be aware.
If you or someone you loved one has been injured or killed in a trucking accident in Lauderdale Lakes or in any of the surrounding areas, contact our personal injury lawyers of Freeman, Mallard, Sharp & Gonzalez, LLC for a confidential appointment to discuss your rights. Call 1-800-529-2368.
More Blog Entries:
Advocates Warn Teens of Large Truck Accidents in West Palm and Elsewhere, Fort Lauderdale Car Accident Attorney Blog, June 8, 2011
Heavy loads likely to cause a higher risk of trucking accidents in Miami, Fort Lauderdale Car Accident Attorney Blog, May 20, 2011