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About 21% of traffic fatalities that occur involve fatigued driving, according to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. The Foundation additionally estimates that drowsy driving is related to an average of 328,000 motor vehicle crashes annually, including 109,000 crashes resulting in injuries and 6,400 crashes that result in fatalities. When you look at these kinds of numbers, it is no wonder that people are particular concerned about how much time commercial drivers, including Uber, Lyft, and other rideshare service drivers, are spending on the road. When your livelihood depends on you being on the clock, it may be tempting for these drivers to continue working when they are too tired to safely do so.
However, when commercial drivers drive drowsy, lives are put in danger. If you have been injured in an accident with a fatigued driver, their negligence caused you harm and you are entitled to legal compensation as a result. Contact Attorney Michael LoGiudice to discuss your legal options for recovering monetary compensation for your losses.
Are There Limits for How Long Cab and Rideshare Drivers Can Be On the Road?
Yes, there are limits to how long cab drivers and drivers for companies like Uber and Lift, can be on the road in a 24-hour time period. The New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) reports that the city has around 13,500 taxi drivers on the road. Uber data reported that there are around 3,200 active drivers in the City each day. With these many drivers on the road, it is more important than ever to make sure they are all well-rested and not putting others at risk by driving while drowsy.
As of February 2016, Uber announced to the TLC that they had put a new policy in place restricting drivers on how long they could driver in a day. Uber drivers are to be temporarily deactivated once reaching a 12 hour driving limit. If the Uber driver exceeded the limit another time, they would be permanently deactivated. Lyft has a similar policy, but there is 14 hour driving limit. After being in driver mode for 14 hours, whether or not it is consecutive, a Lyft driver will have to take a 6-hour break.
New York City taxi drivers are also limited to their time on the road. Much like Uber drivers, taxi drivers are not allowed to drive for more than 12 hours in a row. This went into effect in July 2016 after a unanimous TLC member vote. TLC members hope such policies will work to prevent drivers from becoming dangerously fatigued on the job. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that drowsy driving was a major contributing factor in 72,000 crashes, leading to 44,000 injuries and 80 deaths in 2013 alone.
Pursuing Compensation for Victims of Drowsy Drivers
Drowsy driving is dangerous driving. Commercial drivers are pushing the limits on their time behind the wheel and it is putting other people at risk of injury. While there are policies in place to limit drive time, whether or not drivers will comply with these limits is another story. If you have been injured by a drowsy driver, Attorney Michael LoGiudice is here to fight for your legal right to monetary compensation for your losses.