The Source for Trucking News, Opinions and Trucking Jobs | Insane Stupidity

Sorry, I just didn’t know what else to call this -

Fatal crashes prompt concern over truckers
by Gary Emerling
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
March 9, 2006

Two fatal accidents in the past two weeks involving area motorists
slamming into parked tractor-trailers have renewed safety concerns
about the commercial-trucking industry.

The accident Monday morning in which a Temple Hills motorist was killed
on the Inner Loop of the Capital Beltway occurred when he struck a
disabled and legally parked tractor-trailer on the shoulder of the
road.

Cars slamming into parked semi’s and it’s the truck’s fault. I’m honestly not surprised, but that’s like saying it’s the telephone pole’s fault that someone crashed into it. The article goes on and on about the shortage of parking places.

And what biased article would be complete without this -

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has estimated that
driver fatigue is the primary factor in 4.5 percent of crashes
involving large trucks and a secondary factor in 10.5 percent of such
crashes.

4.5 percent. It’s such a small figure they had to grasp a few straws to make it sound important.

Maryland State police First Sgt. Russell Newell said highway patrol
officers are charged with moving stopped tractor-trailers along on
their way but face a tough decision when deciding to put a tired
trucker back on the road.
"That’s the essence of the problem," he said. "Does an overly fatigued driver constitute an emergency? I don’t know."

I don’t know??? What? Maryland is nasty about writing tickets at rest areas if you’re not in a parking place. But to answer the question… The article talks about a wreck where the driver was over his HOS and then they ask the question if it’s an emergency? Only if it happens to them!!! Or maybe they should let us park where we want then spend a zillion government dollars on an ad campaign about how not to hit a parked truck!