Recognizing the Signs of a Drowsy California Truck Driver

Many people think that they have little to no control over other drivers on the road—especially truck drivers. While this may be true to a certain extent, it does not mean that there are not proactive steps that you can take as a driver to avoid being the victim of a serious Orange County truck accident.

One of the most important steps is to recognize drowsy drivers and distance yourself from their vehicles. In the case of a drowsy semi-truck driver, their behavior can be detrimental to others on the road due to the sheer weight of their rigs.

If the drowsy truck driver is unable to stop his semi in time, he will most likely rear-end the car in front of him, which is probably much smaller and more vulnerable than his own vehicle. Or he will have no choice but to swerve to avoid the back of the car, which means he could lose control of his rig or side-swipe a car in another lane.

It is imperative for all drivers to learn how to recognize the signs of a drowsy driver in order to help prevent California truck accident injuries. That is why the Orange County personal injury attorneys in our office have compiled a list of the top signs of a drowsy driver.

• Swerving in and out of the lane. Unless it is extremely windy outside, a truck and its rig should be between the lines at all times.
• Frequent but unnecessary braking. Seeing a truck’s brake lights repeatedly light up during traffic is normal, as all cars on the road are probably stop-and-go, but if traffic is flowing freely and the driver is still braking for no reason, it could mean that he or she is falling asleep.
• Taking his eyes off of the road. If you look over and see that the truck driver keeps looking down at something in his lap, chances are that he may be losing focus and falling asleep.
• Slowing down and speeding up. Much like the unnecessary braking, slowing down for no reason could mean that the driver is losing his focus on the road.

Want more tips on how to avoid a serious truck accident in Southern California? Contact the truck accident lawyers at Russell & Lazarus at (949) 851-0222 or fill out our online form.