What Causes Most Accidents Involving Semis?

According to major studies of what cause the majority of crashes involving semis is the actions of non-commercial vehicles...cars and pick up trucks.  74% of all truck crashes are caused by non commercial vehicles.

1999 Study
CDLLife.com 2012

The Silly Things People Do While Driving Their Cars That Cause Accidents

Traveling on the highways  for business or pleasure is one of the things many Americans do.  Salesmen, people going to and from work, shopping, school, vacationers and people who just like the open road fill our country’s highways and byways daily.  With the heavy vehicle traffic on the roads it is not surprising that there are wrecks daily.  From the seat of my truck, as I look down at the cars passing me, I see two primary things that lead to accidents; going too fast and distracted driving.

Speeding is simply explained; people are just in a rush to get to where they are going.  Distracted driving is not so easily explained.  While today’s focus in government and in the media is on texting, other forms of distracted driving or just plain silly actions by drivers are probably even more prevalent as the causes of accidents.  In the last week, here are a few of the things I have seen drivers doing while passing me by.

Sitting with their legs crossed Indian style while driving with the car set on cruise.

Reading reports, books and newspapers while going highway speeds.

Eating bowls of some sort of food with a spoon or other utensil.

Changing a baby’s diaper while driving.

Using a laptop while driving.

Having intimate relations with a partner or themselves.

Driving with both feet on the dash.

Doing hair or makeup with no hands on the wheel.

Changing clothing.

Shaving.

Trimming toenails.

Watching a DVD.

Most of the above people were also going faster than posted speed limits while engaging in the activities listed.  Can we all say, “stupid behavior”?  

Reckless driving ranks right up there with distracted driving as one of the major causes of accidents.  What constitutes reckless driving you might ask; here are some examples in addition to the above of course.

Cutting across several lanes of traffic to make on off ramp.

Not using turn signals.

Not merging properly with traffic in the traffic lanes of the road from an on ramp.

Tailgating.

Cutting other vehicles off.

Going too fast for road conditions and traffic.

Not using headlights in adverse weather.

Coming to a stop in backups without using brakes or flashers.

Making u-turns on the interstate using the cut through for emergency vehicle use only.

Not merging properly in road construction lane closures and going too fast through construction zones.

You would not do any of the above would you?  Good, I didn’t think so!