Increasing Truck Parking Spots to Decrease Truck Accidents
If you drove anywhere on Missouri highways to get to Grandma's house from Springfield over the Holidays, you may have utilized one of the many rest areas of welcome centers. While the rest areas are great places for a quick nature break and stretch of the legs for both 2 and 4-legged passengers, they actually could save your life.
The greatest contributing factor in large truck accidents i.e. semi-truck or tractor trailer accidents is driver fatigue. By federal law, truck drivers must leave the road and rest after logging a 10 to 11 hour workday. Naturally, making that stop safe and convenient for a truck driver is more likely to encourage compliance and Missouri has been doing just that. The number of truck parking spaces provided by MoDOT increased 45 percent between the years 2002 and 2009, from 587 spots to 853. In 2010, your tax dollars will contribute to two welcome centers and more converted truck parking areas like from abandoned weigh stations for an additional 142 spaces.
A tired truck driver is more likely to cause an accident and we know a large tractor trailer is more likely to cause an injury or fatal accident for others on the road. When you see truck drivers parked and resting at a Missouri rest area, be thankful those spots are available. And don't be afraid to take a rest yourself as driver fatigue isn't only for truck drivers. See a map of Missouri rest areas.
A Missouri tractor trailer accident lawyer can help if you have been involved in a semi-truck accident. Such cases can be very complex, so don't leave yours to chance. Get a FREE consultation.
