Local authorities reported that an accident involving two semi-trucks in McDuffie County left one driver dead and the other with minor injuries on August 11. The former driver was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident. According to the Georgia State Patrol, the accident occurred at approximately 11:00 p.m. at the intersection of Wire Road and Highway 17. Authorities said a 28-year-old man driving a semi-truck westbound on Wire Road failed to stop at the sign located at the intersection and struck another semi-truck driven by the victim, a 40-year-old man. The news source did not mention any speculation from authorities as to why the surviving truck driver ran the red light. However, the Georgia Department of Public Safety said that charges could be filed against him pending the findings of an investigation by it Specialized Collision Reconstruction Team. When a family suffers the loss of a loved one…

Georgia drivers might be interested in a recent report on the risks of drowsy driving and the trucking industry. According to the report, truck accidents resulting from driver fatigue have been a concern to authorities for many years. The amount that a driver earns can be contingent on how many miles that driver travels, and this reality applies pressure on the drivers to be behind the wheel even if they are tired. While some sources suggest that this problem is relatively well known between truck drivers, the issue has come to the public's attention after an accident involving comedian Tracey Morgan who was severely injured in a fatal accident that occurred outside of New York City. According to reports, the driver of the Walmart tractor-trailer that crashed into the van carrying Morgan and several other passengers had not slept in over 24 hours. By some estimates, fatigued driving is the leading…

A driver in Georgia was trapped in her vehicle after part of a tractor-trailer landed on top of her car and sliced the roof. According to the police, the accident occurred near the intersection of Lawrenceville Suwanee Road and Horizon Drive. Firefighters were brought to the scene of the crash to rescue the driver. The driver was eventually transported to a hospital and is in stable condition. The tractor-trailer driver did not have any injuries. Investigators believe that the crash occurred when the trailer separated from the truck and crushed a car that was in the opposite lane. The road where the crash occurred was blocked so crews could assess the damage, and the Georgia State Patrol is still investigating. While most truck drivers do a good job of performing their duties, it takes only one to destroy an innocent life. Anybody who has been injured in a truck accident…

In Macon, as with most American cities, we drive a lot. Many people work in Atlanta or the southern suburbs. Most people think nothing of driving there to go shopping or to catch a Braves or Falcons game. And the more miles we drive, the greater the exposure to the risk of a car accident. Many people believe themselves to be safe drivers. They drive the speed limit, most of the time. They pay attention to road signs and changing road and weather conditions. They signal their turns and leave an appropriate following distance to the car in front of their vehicle. Many have driven years or even decades without a car accident. But none of that makes them immune to having a car or truck accident in the future. Because, in reality, driving always involves some amount of luck. Luck that you are not glancing at your phone at the very…

Last week, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the agency that investigates transportation accidents, issued a statement that was critical of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), the agency responsible for oversight of the truck and bus industry. The NTSB, because of its investigatory role in truck and bus accidents, has a great deal of insight as to the types of safety violations that lead to deadly truck accidents, and criticized the FMCSA for a lax response to companies' failures to comply with safety regulations. The NTSB cited four accidents within the last 12 months as examples of where the FMCSA had evidence of the companies involved safety violations, yet failed to act prior to the fatal crashes that left 25 dead and 83 injured. Two crashes involved bus companies that had various violations, including defective brakes, inappropriate tires, numerous vehicles placed out of service and a history of driver…

It was clear that there had been a terrible accident in Gainesville, Georgia late last week. There was no doubt that there were several vehicles that had been smashed together in a mass of twisted metal. It was obvious that there was at least one tractor-trailer that had increased the severity of the crash. It was obvious that there were three individuals who had lost their lives in the collision and another five people who were seriously injured when the vehicles collided on Highway 365 this past Thursday. Looking at the scene, there were some things that left no questions. For police in Gainesville, the cause of the crash was less than obvious. After the accident, police were left to sort out the details. They began an investigation into the fatal accident, but no details were immediately reported. This is common after an accident involving multiple vehicles. Who is at…

Truck move America. At any moment, hundreds of thousands of trucks are moving goods across the country. As part of legislation dealing with transportation needs for the future, Congress has requested that the prospect of larger trucks be considered. These trucks would allow more goods to be transported, and in theory, lower the costs. At least, for some entities. The price the rest of us could be wind up paying, however, could be much higher. Some of the opposition to the proposal comes from a somewhat unexpected quarter: truck drivers. The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA), an association of independent truck drivers sees the potential for more truck accidents resulting from these larger trucks. The proposal would permit trucks to increase to 97,000 lbs on six-axles. Trucks this size today are considered heavy hauls and are a specialized area of trucking. The size and complexity of these larger trucks demand a…