What Is the Impact of Driver Fatigue on Truck Accident Risk?

Posted on: October 16, 2025

Truck drivers face long hours on the road, strict delivery schedules, and physically demanding conditions. Fatigue can develop quickly under these pressures and significantly affect a driver’s ability to operate a vehicle safely. When tiredness sets in, reaction times slow, focus diminishes, and judgment weakens. This raises the likelihood of truck accidents, which frequently cause life-threatening injuries.

What Are the Common Causes of Truck Driver Fatigue?

As you might imagine, extended shifts, limited rest periods, and irregular sleep schedules contribute to driver fatigue. Federal regulations set limits on commercial truck drivers, but delivery deadlines and traffic delays often push drivers beyond safe limits. Medical issues like sleep apnea and the use of certain medications also increase tiredness behind the wheel.

What Are the Federal Regulations to Reduce Truck Driver Fatigue?

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration enforces Hours of Service regulations designed to limit the number of hours commercial drivers can operate without rest. These rules set maximum driving limits, require mandatory breaks, and regulate consecutive work periods. Still, violations contribute to accidents.

How Does Fatigue Affect Truck Driver Performance?

Driver fatigue impairs cognitive functions, motor skills, and decision-making abilities. When a truck driver is tired, their ability to stay alert and react to sudden hazards decreases. Even mild fatigue can delay response times, reduce concentration, and affect coordination, creating dangerous conditions on highways and local roads.

How Does Sleep Deprivation Affect Reaction Time?

Sleep deprivation slows mental processing and reaction time, making it more difficult for drivers to respond quickly to traffic signals, sudden stops, or unexpected road hazards. Studies have shown that being awake for more than 18 hours produces impairment similar to driving under the influence of alcohol. For truck drivers covering long distances, this significantly increases the risk of collisions.

How Common Are Fatigue-Related Truck Accidents?

Driver fatigue is a significant factor in a large percentage of truck collisions each year. Research from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration shows that drowsy driving contributes to thousands of truck-related crashes nationwide.

What Are the Warning Signs of Fatigue While Driving?

Signs of driver fatigue can develop gradually and may include frequent yawning, heavy eyelids, drifting between lanes, or difficulty maintaining speed. Many drivers also experience “microsleeps,” brief moments of unconsciousness lasting only seconds, which happen without warning. These short lapses can be especially dangerous when operating an 80,000-pound vehicle at highway speeds.

Can Trucking Companies Be Liable for Fatigue-Related Accidents?

In some cases, trucking companies may share responsibility when driver fatigue leads to an accident. If a company pressures drivers to exceed legal driving hours, fails to monitor rest schedules, or neglects proper training, liability can extend beyond the driver. Investigations usually focus on a review of driver logs, company policies, and electronic tracking systems to determine whether regulations were violated.

What Steps Can Help Reduce Fatigue-Related Truck Accidents?

Preventing fatigue-related truck crashes involves a combination of driver responsibility, company compliance, and federal oversight. Drivers must take adequate rest, avoid driving while drowsy, and manage medical conditions that affect alertness. Trucking companies need to support safe scheduling practices and comply with Hours of Service rules; increased monitoring and stronger enforcement can also reduce risks on the road.

Let the Freehold Truck Accident Lawyers at Ellis Law Pursue Justice for Your Damages

Were you injured in a crash caused by a fatigued truck driver? If so, contact our Freehold truck accident lawyers at Ellis Law. For a free consultation, call today at 732-308-0200 or contact us online. With office locations in New Jersey and New York, including Freehold and Monmouth County, we proudly serve clients throughout both states.