Mandatory Alcohol Testing Could Have Caused Decline in Truck Accident Fatalities

Mandatory Alcohol Testing Could Have Caused Decline in Truck Accident Fatalities

As Atlanta truck accident lawyers, we keep ourselves informed about the latest developments in trucking safety.A study by scientists at Columbia University seems to suggest that mandatory alcohol testing programs have been responsible for the decline in truck accident fatalities in 2009.Last year, saw a significant drop in these deaths, from 4,245 fatalities in 2008, to 3,380 fatalities in 2009.

The results of the study titled Effectiveness of Mandatory Alcohol Testing Programs on Reducing Alcohol Involvement in Fatal Motor Carrier Crashes show that these alcohol testing programs that were implemented in 1995, have contributed to an approximately 23% reduced risk of alcohol use as a factor in truck accidents.

The study considered a total of 69,295 motor carrier drivers and 83,436 non-motor carrier drivers, involved in 66,138 fatal accidents.The researchers found that 2.7% of the motor carrier drivers and 19.4% of the non-motor carrier drivers tested positive for blood alcohol.The researchers found the same results even when they adjusted for variable factors, like the age of the truck driver, sex, as well as his history of driving under the influence.Researchers are taking this to mean that mandatory alcohol testing programs have had some effect on reducing the numbers of drunk driving accidents involving commercial truck drivers.

In other trucking safety-related developments this week, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has proposed new truck tire testing procedures that will cover approximately 98 % of all commercial truck tires sold in the United States.These new testing procedures will include enhanced endurance testing and speed testing standards for truck tires.The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is currently inviting comments on these new proposed regulations.