The outcome of a truck accident can be severe and can seriously impact the victims’ lives. Truck accidents can occur for several reasons and one common reason is fatigue. Hundreds of truck accidents happen each year because of driver’s negligence. The law limits the number of hours drivers may travel in the trucking industry.
At times, accidents can be the trucking company’s fault, such as when they pressure or force the driver to work beyond regular work hours. Around 4,119 people lost their lives in truck accidents in the year 2019. The data also reveals that many truck crashes occur on internal roadways as well as the Interstate and freeways.
The trucking industry has begun using a device, known as an electronic logging device, that may help prevent the risk of these critical accidents. The following information relates to electronic logging devices and how they may reduce the risk of truck accidents.
What is an electronic logging device?
Before digging into the role of the electronic device in truck accidents, let us understand what an electronic logging device is. It is a piece of electronic hardware that is often attached to commercial motor vehicles.
The device helps record the number of driving hours, which may be useful in regulating the hours that drivers work. The device is also referred to as ELD or E-log. The device can monitor and track the motor vehicle’s operations. It can capture data related to the following:
- The number of miles driven
- The duration of the engine’s operation
- It will track whether the engine is running
- It will track whether the vehicle is moving
In the past, drivers used to misreport the number of hours they would drive. This would happen for several reasons. For example, many of the drivers were paid by the number of miles they drove. As mentioned above, there have been instances where trucking companies force the drivers to work beyond their shifts. Working beyond the regular shift can impact a driver’s ability to remain focused on the road. Many accidents have been caused by drivers who fall asleep while driving after long hours. This can increase the risk of truck accidents and may be harmful to everyone else on the road, not just the truck driver. To discuss your case details, you can consult serious truck accident. He will help you understand the laws and take necessary steps to help you with your injury claim. Winning a personal injury claim settlement is easier with the help of a qualified legal representative.
1. The Electronic Logging Device (ELD) Rule – The ELD rule came into effect in 2017, intending to improve safety and improve oversight of trucking industry regulations. Commercial truck drivers must comply with the regulations and the ELD Rule helps keep them honest.
Moreover, an ELD provides real-time visibility so that companies can record the number of service hours provided by the driver. The ELD data is captured automatically and certain fields can be edited manually. Any manual editing will also be trackable by the business.
The ELD can directly record the following information related to the vehicle:
- Date
- Time
- Geographic location
- Miles traveled
- Engine power up and shutdown
- Yards moved
- Vehicle identification
- Motor carrier identification
- 60-minute intervals of motion
- Engine diagnostics and malfunction
Driver information that is captured includes:
- Driver login and logout
- Driver or authorized user identification
- Documentation of a driver’s daily record
- Hours of service (HOS) provided by the driver
- Duty status changes, if any (driving, on duty, off duty)
2. Improved Safety
An ELD increases safety by recording the actual number of hours served by the driver. It will record all the data mentioned above, allowing companies to comply with all the regulations. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), drivers may not drive beyond the 14th consecutive hour after coming on duty, following 10 consecutive hours off duty. Off-duty time does not extend the 14-hour period.
Driving beyond the regular limits increases the risk of dangerous situations, which can harm the truck driver, other drivers, the trucking company, and pedestrians. Most truck accidents can be prevented by following basic precautions and taking proper safety measures.
Failure to take safety measures raises the risk of potential accidents. On the contrary, many truck drivers are against the idea of using an ELD. They often raise the concern that ELDs are not accurate and prone to human malfunction. But, it is important to note that the use of ELDs will give drivers more protection. Drivers asked to serve too many hours and work beyond the working limits can refer to the ELD.
The implementation of ELDs and ELD rules is one of several safety updates that help prevent the risk of truck accidents. There is, however, plenty of opportunity for truck accidents to still occur. Distracted driving, driving under the influence, speeding, and manufacturing defects are other common reasons for truck accidents.
If you or your loved one has sustained injuries in a truck accident, you may be able to file a legal complaint. You can contact a professional Philadelphia truck accident lawyer to fight the claim and get compensation for your injuries and other related damages.
