The United States Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) launched an initiative to enhance safety in trucking and lower crash risks. The initiative is called Compliance, Safety, and Accountability (CSA) and measures a driver's safety score by analyzing seven Behavioral Analysis and Safety Improvement Categories, or BASICS. Though certain aspects of the program have been scrutinized by truckers and other agencies, the FMCSA does believe the CSA program has reduced the overall incidence of trucking accidents on America's roads and highways. In the unfortunate instance that you are injured in a truck accident, call a Newnan truck accident attorney to help you get reimbursed for your injuries.
The BASICs cover seven areas that are the most common reasons for trucking accidents. These seven ares are:
- Unsafe driving – Unsafe driving practices, either intentionally or unintentionally
- Crash history – If a driver has a history of crashing, there is a greater chance of him crashing again
- Vehicle maintenance – An improperly maintained vehicle (especially regarding brakes and tires) is one of the major causes of truck accidents
- Fatigue - Caused by not taking the requisite and necessary breaks from driving
- Use of alcohol and controlled substances – Drugs and alcohol will impair the judgment of drivers
- Cargo related – Improperly secured cargo causes numerous accidents as the load shifts while turning or braking
- Driver fitness – This covers a number of areas including physical, mental, and health-related problems
The American Transportation Research Institute has analyzed the effectiveness of measuring these BASICs, with mixed results. The ATRI findings show a direct correlation between crash risk and BASIC scores in unsafe driving, fatigued driving and vehicle maintenance, and only partial support for the substance abuse BASIC score. However, ATRI found almost no correlation between crash risk and driver fitness, and therefore criticizes the extra pressure put on driver to stay fit.
Reducing trucking crashes is very important for the safety of other drivers on the road. If you are in a trucking crash, call Shane Smith Law at (980) 246-2656 today for a free consultation. An experienced Newnan truck accident attorney can help you with your case and receive the maximum possible settlement.