Electronic on-board recorders (EOBR) are electronic devices attached to commercial motor vehicles (CMV) to improve the safety of trucks and truck drivers across the United States. These EOBRs record the amount of time a vehicles is being driven.
In January 2011, the U.S. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) proposed a rule requiring EOBRs for interstation commercial truck and bus companies. The proposal would affect more than 500,000 carriers in the country. However, the only mandatory EOBR use law is for companies with a poor compliance record, which went into effect in June 2012.
Part of the reason these devices are important is they record how much time a driver has spent on the road. Every driver obligated only to drive a certain number of hours. These hours, called hours of service (HOS), were set in place to prevent CMV drivers from becoming overworked and fatigued.
In the past, before these regulations were put in place, many CMV accidents were caused by drivers who had been working for more than 8 hours at a time on a regular basis. Drivers more regularly caused accidents when fatigued then not, so the FMCSA created working hour regulations all truck drivers are still obliged to follow.
However, when a driver fails to adhere to these HOS and drives overtime, he or she is putting himself or herself and others at risk. Studies have shown driving fatigued is just as dangerous as driving drunk, because it slows down the reaction time of the person operating the vehicle. EOBRs are designed to prevent this HOS violation from happening.
For example, if a passenger car driver gets into a crash with a CMV driver who was working longer hours than is legal, the CMV driver and his or her employee would be on the line for negligence. The passenger car driver’s lawyer would look at the EOBR as evidence of the CMV driver’s noncompliance with HOS regulations, which makes it more likely the passenger car driver would recover compensation for the accident.
Commercial truck accidents can be extremely dangerous, which is why CMV drivers are so highly regulated. When big rigs get into an accident, the results can be catastrophic. If you or a loved one were injured by a negligent truck driver, don’t hesitate to give us a call. Our skilled Greenville truck accident attorneys are happy to look over your case and give you legal advice about your best course of action to recover compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
Contact us at (864) 408-8883 or fill out our online form to schedule a free case consultation today.