Truckers Under the Influence Endanger Passenger Vehicles

Currently, the Federal Government terminated prior to employment drug testing and random testing after it for all commercial truck drivers. The law specifically states that the drivers are subject to a commercial driver's license (CDL) drug testing as well as truck owner-operators with a CDL, and motor carriers who employ drivers, complete with a CDL.

A recent study by the Insurance Institute for Traffic Safety showed that 15% of all interstate truck drivers had marijuana in theirSystem, 12% had type stimulants (non-prescription), in 5% of prescription stimulants, cocaine and 2% less than 1% had alcohol in their system.

Alcohol

In relation to alcohol use, a driver does not have to be drunk to avoid being affected. Even at very low blood alcohol concentration (BAC) levels impair driving performance by reducing the driver's reaction time and slowed his decision making process. At the current time, the federal government prohibits commercial truck drivers, railroad and mass transitWorkers, maritime employees and drivers from operating vehicles with a BAC at or greater than 0.04%. The number of accidents caused by drunken truck driver, has actually declined in recent years. Statistics show that only about 1-3% of truck accidents are caused by damage to the truck driver.

Marijuana

Many people have the misconception that driving after smoking marijuana is safer than driving after drinking. That is simply not true. Marijuana can affectConcentration, perception and reaction time is smoked up to 24 hours after. This is much, much longer than alcohol itself affects a driver's behavior.

Marijuana has proven to be a factor in more than 12% of fatal truck accidents. In recent years, the truck driver tested randomly for drugs and alcohol, a whopping 45% showed marijuana in her system.

Methamphetamine

Because of the very long hours they often have to work, the truck drivers always stay on the lookout for ways toawake and alert, meet deadlines. It was reported that 17 out of every 20 truck drivers say, it is very easy to find methamphetamine at truck stops along their route. Truck drivers have recently fallen more and more on the powerful drug due to the fact it can keep people awake for several hours, sometimes days. Surveys and roadside tests have indicated that a lorry driver in five stimulants used on some of their journeys.

Perhaps there is a need for drug testing of ourNation's truck drivers. Although tested, the most truck drivers at random after the date of hire, say many of them, it does not come often enough.