Drunk Big Rig Drivers: A Danger On Indiana Roads

We reported on a frightening story out of Indiana this month: a commercial truck driver ran off of the road on Interstate 80, striking a camera tower and doing hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of property damage. Indiana State Patrol officers found an open container of beer in the truck driver’s cab – and the trucker admitted to drinking three beers before beginning his shift.

Just when you thought drunk drivers in cars and pickups were a dangerous issue on Indiana highways and interstates, truckers like the one above are exposing an even more shocking problem: truck drivers driving on the roads and on the job. A truck driver who is driving while under the influence of alcohol is even more dangerous than a drunk driver in a car – truckers are controlling a truck that is much heavier and larger than other vehicles, not to mention that truck are more difficult to steer, stop, and maneuver.

Luckily, truck drivers do not drive drunk as often as others on the road – the laws regarding drunk driving and commercial drivers are much harsher than those for non-commercial drivers, and drivers caught driving their big rigs while drunk face tough consequences, both from the law and from their employers. While the legal limit is a blood alcohol content of 0.08 for drivers in Indiana, the legal limit for truck drivers is 0.04 BAC. Many commercial truck drivers also face a suspension of their commercial driver’s license.

If you have been injured in an Indiana truck accident that involved a trucker driving while intoxicated, talk to a accident and injury attorney today.

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