What is the most common cause of truck accidents?

Driver inattention or distraction is recognized as the most common cause of truck accidents because it directly impacts a driver's ability to process information and respond appropriately to dynamic road conditions. Factors contributing to this type of inattention can include distractions from mobile devices, in-cab technologies, eating or drinking, and even fatigue. This type of human error can lead to delayed reactions, missed signals or road signs, and ultimately increases the risk of collisions.

While mechanical failure, weather conditions, and failure to obey traffic signals are all significant factors in truck accidents, they usually occur less frequently as leading causes compared to the effects of driver distraction. Mechanical failures might not be as common due to regular maintenance and inspections that truck operators typically follow. Similarly, adverse weather conditions can certainly pose risks but tend to be anticipated by experienced drivers who are trained to adapt their driving behavior accordingly. Lastly, failure to obey traffic signals can result in serious accidents, but this improper adherence usually stems from driver inattention or distraction itself. Thus, the overwhelming influence of driver behavior makes inattention or distraction the predominant cause of truck accidents.