“At some point, somebody has to take personal responsibility & be accountable for the danger of this industry. More truck drivers are killed on the job than any other occupation. More than 500 truck drivers are killed every year in truck crashes. . . I don’t know any other industry where that’s allowed . . . and people are looking the other way.
“We need to have this prosecuted at the industry or company level, because that’s where the problem lies. . . The industry drives them harder and longer than they should. The result is catastrophic death and injury all across the country
“If we could get a change in some of the laws. . . to the point where company executives are criminally responsible for the violations of their drivers’ Hours of Service, you would see a lot of things change in the industry. You might see some changes that are long overdue,” says Jeff Burns, Truck Litigation Attorney.
Jeff Burns, National Transportation Counsel for the Truck Safety Coaltion, discusses the issue of truck crash prosecutions and the challenges facing victims of truck crashes. Prosecutors across the country are choosing not to prosecute those responsible for deadly truck crashes. Furthermore, drivers and companies are facing only minimal fines, much less than a speeding motorist, for reckless driving that results in an accident and/or death. Visit www.trucksafety.org for more information on how you can help in the fight to make our highways safer for everyone. June 14, 2011
Some previous posts which I have written on the issues of justice related to truck crashes:
- Law Enforcement: With Justice For All…Balancing Truth & Love
- The Court Hearing; Update On Our Trip To Georgia
- Do what it takes to prevent people from unnecessarily dying in motor vehicle crashes.
- Distracted & Drowsy Driving; A Matter of Personal AND Social Responsibility–NOT Either/Or
- What is justice as it relates to traffic safety?
- Careless Attitudes Can Contribute to Unnecessary Deaths
- Truck Crashes: Who Pays the Price?
- Justice: Up close and personal
- How a Truck Crash Changed the Month of May; or What Happens When Nobody Takes Responsibility?
