Commercial truck drivers today can work as many as 70 hours in only eight days. Some people in the industry are abusing drugs and alcohol because of the stressful, isolated nature of the job. Substance addiction is a common coping mechanism for semi truck drivers, whether it’s because they’re trying to stay awake and log more hours on the road or because they’re bored and tired of being alone all the time.
According to the American Addiction Centers, the consequences of substance misuse are severe regardless of the individual’s motivation for engaging in such behaviour. The risks associated with operating a large commercial vehicle while under the influence of drugs or alcohol are already substantial; imagine how much greater they become when the impaired drivers are in charge of even more lethal commercial vehicles. So, how widespread is the issue of truckers misusing drugs? Discuss your case with an Atlanta truck accident attorney.
A brief overview
Some truck drivers get around the rules requiring them to take breaks at specific intervals by taking extra shifts. In other circumstances, they do this despite the fact that increasing their workloads could be harmful to their health and increase the likelihood that they will engage in risky behaviours while behind the wheel, such as falling asleep at the wheel or driving while otherwise latestforyouth impaired.
Amphetamines, such as methamphetamine, are sometimes used by truckers who have very demanding schedules because they can temporarily improve attentiveness, helping them to get through certain chores faster.
Nearly eighty two percent of semitruck drivers in three dozen surveys acknowledged to using amphetamines while on the job. However concerning this percentage may be, what’s even more worrisome is the number of truck drivers who admitted to drinking while on the job. Ninety-one percent or more of truck drivers admitted to drinking on the job at some point, and another 8 percent or so admitted to abusing cocaine while driving.
When a truck driver is under the influence of drugs or alcohol, it’s not just their reaction time that suffers; their awareness and judgement also take a hit. Semitruck drivers who use drugs or alcohol on the job imperil every driver and passenger on the road, and unless more is done to tackle this prevalent problem, nothing will change superstep.
