What the Dakota Access Pipeline Could Mean for Truck Traffic in Idaho
BOISE and NAMPA, Idaho. Many Idaho residents have stood up to protest the North Dakota Pipeline. Critics of the pipeline claim that the line could contaminate the water that the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe relies upon. Others claim that more research needs to be done on the risks of water contamination that the pipeline could cause. According to the New York Times, supporters of the pipeline claim that the line could transport half a million barrels of crude oil to South Dakota, Iowa, and to areas in the Midwest. Yet other supporters claim that it could reduce oil train and truck traffic.
Yet, would the pipeline really reduce dangerous oil and truck traffic in Idaho? If the pipeline is approved, the New York Times notes that it could create more markets for the oil. The pipeline won’t be constructed in Idaho, so truck and oil traffic will likely still be used to transport oil. If the pipeline increases the supply, Idaho citizens may see more truck oil traffic on the road. Environmental groups claim that the pipeline could put water supplies for millions at risk.
According to Forbes, the transport of oil is generally a dangerous enterprise, whether you’re transporting it by boat, rail, truck, or pipeline. Forbes reports that truck transport of crude oil is the most dangerous way to transport the substance, beating out pipeline transport, boat transport, and train transport. After all, if a truck transporting oil collides with a passenger vehicle, the chances of passengers suffering serious injury or wrongful death in the truck accident are high. Trucks carrying crude oil are heavy, and can burst into flames.
According to the Congressional Research Service, truck oil spills result in more oil spills than any other form of transportation method. However, when considering raw environmental impact, boat transport is worst, with pipeline impact coming in second, truck transport coming in third, and rail transport coming in last.
Trucking accounts for 4% of all crude oil shipments. Yet, when crude oil comes in contact with humans, the environment, or animals, it can be deadly. When crude oil contaminates water, it can lead to injury and illness in many people and animals. Many advocates of truck driving safety urge lawmakers to require trucks carrying crude oil to be equipped with electronic recording devices. After all, the loads these drivers are carrying pose a much greater risk to the general public, other drivers, human health, and the environment.
Idaho law protects Boise and Nampa residents if they are affected by a truck accident. Victims and their families have the right to seek compensation for their medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. The Law Office of Johnson & Lundgreen works closely with victims and their families to raise awareness of the risk dangerous truck drivers and deadly loads pose to drivers on the road. Our firm is watching closely the impact that truck drivers and truck companies have and we stand with those whose lives have been affected by deadly truck accidents. Contact us at https://johnsonandlundgreen.com/ to learn more about how to protect your rights if you have been injured in a truck accident.
