New federal regulations designed to help improve the safety of trucking on the roadways begins July 1. If you have suffered an injury in an accident with a truck, call to speak with a Milwaukee truck accident lawyer immediately.
New safety regulations developed to help reduce driver fatigued and keep the roadways safer is slated to begin July 1. An experienced Milwaukee truck accident lawyer can help you understand your rights if you have suffered injuries in a truck accident.
The regulations were announced 18 months ago for companies to adopt new hours-of-service rules for truck drivers. The rules limit the average work week for truck drivers to 70 hours to ensure all truck operators have adequate rest when operating their vehicles.
According to a press release from the U.S. Department of transportation, only the most extreme schedules will be affected and more than 85 percent of truck drivers will see no changes.
Estimations show that the new safety regulations are expected to save 19 lives and prevent approximately 1,400 crashes and 560 injuries a year. Working long, daily hours for an extended time is associated with chronic fatigue, many serious chronic health issues along with a high risk or crashes.
“These fatigue-fighting rules for truck drivers were carefully crafted based on years of scientific research and unprecedented stakeholder outreach,” said FMCSA Administrator Anne S. Ferro. “The result is a fair and balanced approach that will result in an estimated $280 million in savings from fewer large truck crashes and $470 million in savings from improved driver health. Most importantly, it will save lives.”
The new law limits the maximum average work week for truck drivers to 70 hours, down from 82 hours. It mandates drivers who reach the maximum 70 hours of driving within a week rest for 34 consecutive hours, including at least two nights. It also requires truck drivers take a 30-minute break during the first eight hours of a shift.
Violators whose truckers exceed the maximum by more than three hours could face a fine of $11,000 per offense. Drivers can face civil penalties of $2,750 for each offense.
If you have suffered any type of injury due to a truck accident, call to speak with a Milwaukee truck accident lawyer today.
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