contactThe Ohio State Highway Patrol have reported that a Kentucky man was killed after "being a passenger in one of two commercial trucks involved in a rear-end collision early Wednesday in Mahoning County." The man, of Nicholasville, Ky., was pronounced dead at the scene of the truck accident.
Ohio Truck Drivers Protected Against Employer Retaliation
When considering how to best protect Ohio drivers and prevent Ohio truck accidents, much of the focus is on creating stricter laws and consequences for those who would violate them. However, such laws can be difficult to enforce, and therefore may not be as effective as intended. Much of the responsibility falls on trucking companies and employers to obey the laws. This does not always happen, so OSHA sought to make it easier for employees to come forward with violations. Therefore, under OSHA's whistleblower protection laws, a truck driver or other trucking employee who sees a safety or security violation may report them without fear of retaliation or other consequences from their employer.The Surface Transportation Assistance Act (STAA), which was passed in 2007, was recently amended to include new procedures, rights and remedies. STAA is applicable to all private sector truck drivers, including independent contractors, as well as mechanics, freight handlers, and other employees of commercial motor carriers. A commercial motor vehicle is defined as any self-propelled or towed vehicle used on the highway in commerce principally to transport cargo or passengers, and must weigh over 10,000 pounds, or be designed to transport 10 or more passengers, or transport hazardous materials.
Small Truck Drivers Fight Ohio Truck Regulations
In an effort to reduce the number of Ohio truck accidents, in 2008 the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) enacted new, more stringent laws in regards to the state's truck drivers, requiring that vehicles of 10,000 or more pounds meet strict standards. In a drastic drop from the previous weight limit of 26,000 pounds, drivers of smaller vehicles are now required to fulfill requirements such as additional driver documentation, certification and physicals, and get additional vehicle inspections. Small truck owners have struggled to comply with the new laws, and argue that the requirements are unnecessary and expensive for small business owners.According to PUCO spokeswoman Shana Eiselstein, the regulations were augmented to maintain federal funding. Before the 2008 changes, Ohio's hazardous materials and private carriers laws were inconsistent with standards put in place by the federal government. As a result, if the state had not made the changes, it faced the possibility of losing $7 million each year in federal funding, which pays for over 100 vehicle safety inspectors.
One Motorist Dead After Truck Accident in Ohio
According to the Ohio Highway Patrol, a fatal truck accident left one individual dead on Ohio 545, north of Crall Road, on Thursday. The truck accident occurred around 11:49 a.m. As a result of the crash, a 68-year-old man, of Mansfield, was pronounced dead at the scene of the two-vehicle accident.
Ohio Teen Fatally Injured in Truck Accident
A 16-year-old Port Clinton girl was fatally injured in a truck accident on Tuesday. The girl was a passenger in an SUV that struck a truck on Ohio 53 between Oak Harbor Southeast Road and Streeter Road at 5:39 p.m., according to the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
Truck Accident Kills Cleveland Man in Oklahoma
News reports detail that a Cleveland motorcyclist was killed after his motorcycle collided with a semi-trailer Wednesday morning in Pawnee County, Oklahoma. The truck accident occurred around 8:10 a.m. on U.S. Highway 64 about a mile west of State Highway 18. State highway patrol expressed that the truck accident happened when a 64-year-old man was traveling northbound on U.S. 64 when he crossed the center lane of the highway and hit a southbound semi truck.
Drowsy Driving Prevention Week Aims to Reduce Truck Accidents
This week is National Drowsy Driving Prevention Week. The campaign, which started yesterday and runs through the end of the week, aims to raise awareness and educate motorists about the dangers of getting behind the while of a motor vehicle while sleepy. The goal of the week, which is supported and run by the National Sleep Foundation, is to help educate individuals about this potentially deadly habit to help reduce the number of injuries and fatalities caused by drivers who are sleepy or that fall asleep behind the wheel. The campaign is also aimed at educating commercial drivers to reduce the number of truck accidents that involve truck drivers that fell asleep at the wheel.
Motorist Killed in Ohio Truck Accident
As many states have attempted to make roadways safer for commercial truck and passenger vehicles, the reality is that accidents will still occur and people need to continue to be alert and aware of their surroundings when traveling on interstate or highways roads that frequent commercial trucks, like tractor-trailers or semis.
Car Accident Injures Nine on Ohio 4
According to Ohio news reports, nine individuals were injured and transported to hospitals following a two-vehicle accident Friday evening on Ohio Interstate 4. The Sandusky Post reported that the Ohio Highway Patrol has cited a 73-year-old Bellevue man for causing the nearly fatal car accident. The accident occurred at around 5:09 p.m. when the man was driving his 2004 Chevrolet 2500 south on Ohio 4 near Mason Road.
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