San Bernardino Trucking Lanes May Provide Safer Roads in the Future
Freight trucks mingling with passenger vehicles may be a thing of the past on San Bernardino freeways if planning officials have their way reports ABC 7 News. With traffic expected to double on Inland Empire freeways, officials have put forward many solutions including a requirement that freight trucks use special lanes only for freight use. Such a requirement is not new to Southern California, as the recently opened Devore Interchange implemented these special trucking lanes.
South California Shipping Hub – Southern California is the center of the United States’ largest hub of freight shipping, dispersing cargo throughout the United States via commercial freight trucking companies. Nearly 50 percent of the United States’ sea borne cargo enters though Long Beach and Los Angeles Ports, home to the two largest port complexes in the nation. 75 percent of that cargo then travels right through San Bernardino County.
A Heightened Risk to All Drivers – The high amount of commercial freight traffic on San Bernardino roads may be good for the region’s economy but bad for passenger vehicle drivers. Auto accidents involving commercial freight vehicles are inherently more dangerous than those that involve only passenger vehicles. Freight vehicles are larger than most passenger vehicles and often haul multiple tons of goods in their attached trailer. Operators of such vehicles require quicker reaction times to operate safely and need longer stretches of road to slow down or come to a complete stop.
Freight trucks also have defects in their design, such as blind spots that are present on either side of the truck and the immediate front and back of the vehicle. These blind spots mean that even if a driver is aware of his or her surroundings, the possibility of a freight truck merging on top of a smaller vehicle is always a present danger.
None of these risks take factor in the human component of freight truck accidents. Accidents due to driver fatigue, improperly secured loads and impaired drivers are common among commercial freight drivers who operate under strict deadlines to deliver goods over a long distance in a short period of time.
Commercial Freight Truck Accidents on the Rise – At a time when fatal car accidents involving passenger vehicles are on the decline, fatal freight truck accidents are on the rise. In 2013, California reported over 2,715 fatal traffic accidents. Over 300 involved commercial freight trucks, representing 9 percent of all fatal traffic accidents, higher than the national average. Commercial freight traffic on the roads increases every single day and as that happens, accidents involving them increases as well.
Freight Truck Accidents Present Unique Challenges in Recovery – Freight truck accidents not only are more dangerous than those involving only passenger vehicles but are also more difficult to recover compensation for. This is due to the presence of powerful and well situated shipping companies protecting their financial interests, as well as the insurance companies that insure them. Therefore it is important that if you or a loved one has been involved in an accident involving a commercial freight vehicle that you consult with an experienced personal injury attorney. The auto accident attorneys atthe Law Offices of Justin H. King in Rancho Cucamonga also serve victims in Montlcair, California can assist you with your auto accident claim needs. Contact us at (909) 297-5001 for a free case consultation or visit us online.
Categories : Auto Accidents, Truck Accidents
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