Corpus Christi Law Blog

Federal data shows that from 2009 to 2017, all but six states saw an increase in the number of large truck crash fatalities. Texas saw the highest number in 2017, followed by California, Florida, Georgia and Pennsylvania. Texas also had the fourth highest percentage increase in truck crash deaths during that eight-year period (the top three being Washington, Idaho and Colorado).

One interesting point is that most of these states have a truck speed limit of 70 mph or more. This is an unsafe speed for any vehicles weighing 80,000 pounds or more, according to Road Safe America. The highway safety non-profit, after studying this federal data, is now encouraging truck fleet owners to consider vehicle safety technology.

An assistant basketball coach at a San Antonio high school was placed on administrative leave following his arrest for DWI-, drugs- and weapons-related charges on Jan. 10. The 39-year old coach was specifically charged with driving while intoxicated, possessing dangerous drugs and unlawful carrying of a weapon.

The coach was arrested in Bexar County, which was where he was placed in jail. He was released three days following the arrest after posting $2,100. School officials at Wagner High School, which is where the man coached, have stated he will no longer be permitted to teach or coach in the school district.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has released statistics on the number of serious dump truck and ready-mix concrete delivery trucks in 2016 (the latest year with available statistics). Truck drivers in Texas should know that there were 8,206 dump truck accidents so severe that the vehicle had to be towed away. This marked a 9 percent increase from the previous year.

The number of dump truck accidents involving injuries rose 2.7 percent to a total of 5,483. This includes accidents with dump trucks used for non-construction-related activities. As for tow-away accidents involving ready-mix delivery trucks, they increased 9.6 percent with 838 in all in 2016. Accidents that caused injuries went up 3.8 percent. Fatal accidents with ready-mix concrete trucks went from 33 in 2015 to 38 in 2016.

Texas roads are filled with all types of vehicles. Motorists are used to sharing space with delivery vans, motorcycles, tractors and even horses. However, one category of vehicle poses a significantly larger public safety hazard to passenger cars. The sheer size of large tractor-trailers makes them a danger to everything in their path.

A fully loaded tractor-trailer rig can legally weigh up to 80,000 pounds and outweigh a passenger car by nearly 39 tons. Bringing a big truck to a safe stop can require the length of two football fields under ideal conditions. When variables such as slick roads and worn tires are factored into the equation, stopping distance can be much longer. For these reasons, truckers are trained to keep a safety cushion in between their trucks and other vehicles. Unfortunately, motorists often merge into this safety cushion and put themselves at risk in the event of an emergency that requires a quick stop.