Unlike the typical driver, commercial drivers have special regulations they must follow in regards to drinking alcohol and driving. Anyone who has a commercial driver’s license, or CDL, must follow federal regulations and are held to a higher standard when it comes to DUIs.
Commercial drivers are in control of large, heavy equipment. It’s a necessity to make sure these drivers are in good health when they’re behind the wheel. If they are intoxicated or impaired, they could cause severe accidents that may lead to injuries or the deaths of those involved.
Did you know that the commercial driver’s license restricts drivers to having a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of no more than .04 percent when behind the wheel? The standard for the typical driver is .08 percent. Additionally, drivers of commercial vehicles may not get behind the wheel of a commercial vehicle if they drank alcohol within the last four hours. The goal of this law is to make sure that any commercial driver is as sober as possible before driving a commercial vehicle. With a four-hour buffer, it’s more likely that the driver’s BAC will be low enough to keep him or her safe on the road.
Commercial drivers have an obligation to the others on the roads. Since they drive such large vehicles, they must be responsible and proceed with the utmost care. If they’re not cautious, they could cause a serious collision, which is more likely to result in fatalities due to the size of the vehicles involved. If you’re struck, a driver should be held accountable.
Source: FindLaw, “Commercial DUI Regulations,” accessed May 15, 2018