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What you should know about substance abuse among truckers

Aug 15, 2018 | Blog, Car and Truck Accident Injuries, Car and Truck Accidents

Home » What you should know about substance abuse among truckers

Truck Accident Lawyer, O'Fallon, ILWhen you drive Illinois’ roadways, you have little choice other than to share the road with commercial trucks, but for some motorists, doing so can prove unnerving and uncomfortable. In addition to being difficult to see and maneuver around because of their sheer size and weight, semitrucks are also often dangerous because many truck drivers admit to engaging in dangerous driving practices while on the job.

Substance abuse, in particular, is a common problem among many truckers, and when the drivers of these massive vehicles drink or use drugs before climbing into the driver’s seat, they endanger you and anyone else who crosses their path. As auto accident lawyers in O’Fallon, IL we want to inform you of the dangers.

Why so many truckers abuse drugs and alcohol

The trucking profession is an inherently tough and lonely one, with many truckers facing long hours alone behind the wheel with what can sometimes prove to be minimal stimulation. In some cases, truck drivers turn to drugs or alcohol to combat the feelings of boredom or loneliness many of them share. Truck drivers also face long hours, and many of them receive pay by the mile. Therefore, staying awake for longer periods can pad a trucker’s paycheck, making some of them more inclined to use stimulants, amphetamines or other methods in an attempt to log more hours or cover more miles.

Trucker substance abuse by the numbers

Just how common is substance abuse in the trucking industry? According to the results of 36 studies conducted over about 13 years, more than 90 percent of American truck drivers acknowledge using alcohol at some point while on the job. Many also admit to amphetamine use, with more than 82 percent of truck drivers surveyed confessing to using it while on the clock. Cocaine abuse, too, appears to be a problem in the trucking industry, with more than 8 percent of truck drivers involved in the survey acknowledging use of the drug.

Until there are fundamental changes made within the trucking industry, trucker substance abuse will continue to be a problem for motorists across Illinois and the nation.

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