Looking Ahead to Safer Highways with Passing of Jason’s Law

Few things present as great a danger on the highway as overly tired truck drivers falling asleep at the wheel of his 18-wheeler. Forty tons of steel and cargo weaving back and forth across the road at 55 miles per hour and suddenly losing control as the sleepy driver finally dozes off is a deadly threat to all who share that stretch of road. Fortunately, a provision passed as part of the Transportation Reauthorization Bill, which was signed into law in July 2012, may help to reduce this growing threat in coming years.

Known as Jason’s Law, Section 1401 of the bill makes a national priority of solving the country’s shortage of safe, long-term parking for commercial motor vehicles, including tractor-trailers. By putting about $6 million per year to work constructing truck parking facilities and modifying existing facilities to include more and safer truck parking, the new law will provide more opportunities for truckers to pull over and get the rest they need without fear for their safety.

Hopefully, the result will be safer highways with less risk of fatal accidents caused by sleepy truck drivers. With more opportunities to catch the sleep they need without the hassle and expense of checking into hotels or risking their safety in poorly lit, unmonitored truck stops or other unsafe parking areas, we hope truck drivers will be less inclined to push on through to the next delivery when they’ve driven too many hours without rest.

The Story Behind Jason’s Law

The bill that became Jason’s Law was introduced to the House of Representatives after New York truck driver Jason Rivenburg was murdered and robbed at an abandoned South Carolina gas station, in 2009, where he had pulled over to rest while on the way to a delivery. Murderer and robber Willie Pelzer took just $7 off Rivenburg’s body after shooting him in the head. Eventually, Pelzer was sentenced to life in prison with no possibility of parole. But Rivenburg’s wife, son and twins (born just 13 days after their father’s murder) were left without husband and father and the income that previously supported them. The complete story can be found online at http://jhlrivenburg.com.

Rivenburg’s murder drew much-needed attention to the shortage of safe truck parking facilities across the nation. New initiatives will focus on constructing new parking facilities next to truck stops and plazas, improvements to highway rest areas to improve parking and safety for truck drivers, improve seasonal facilities to be open year-round, add parking areas to inspection and weigh stations, and promote the availability of publicly and privately owned truck parking facilities.

More is Needed: Trucking Firms Must Encourage Drivers to Rest

Unfortunately, the biggest roadblock to ensuring truck drivers are rested and alert while driving may be with the firms that hire those drivers. As a Detroit personal injury law firm, we have handled many cases involving people who were injured or killed in an accident caused by a less-than-alert truck driver. Often we find that the firm behind the driver encourages drivers to drive more hours than allowed by federal law. Telling drivers to keep false logs showing they’ve stopped to rest every 11 hours as required by law even though they haven’t is not uncommon. By pushing drivers to keep going, the trucking companies hope to make more deliveries and, thus, more profits.

Making more safe parking facilities available for truck drivers is a great step toward eliminating the danger of fatigue-related truck crashes. But until trucking firms take ownership of the problem and encourage drivers to get appropriate rest and comply with the law, the danger of truck drivers falling asleep at the wheel will continue to be a serious problem on the highway.

Injured in a crash with a commercial truck?

If you or someone you love was injured or killed in an accident with a commercial truck, our firm may be able to help you obtain compensation for your injuries, suffering and losses. The Michigan personal injury firm of Sachs Waldman, P.C., has extensive experience assisting individuals and families victimized by accidents with commercial trucks. Call our Detroit auto accident attorneys’ office at 1-800-638-6722 to schedule a free consultation