Accident vs Incident (in Relation with Drug/Alcohol Testing)?

How do they test for alcohol and what can the test results show if you haven’t had a drink in say, 2 weeks or more?

 

As best I understand it, an accident is anything that the police make an accident report for. Generally vehicle vs. vehicle, or a driver damaging their own vehicle on a roadway, or in a way that causes a hazard to other people.

An incident is any accident AND when a driver damages something but there is no other vehicle involved. Damaging a sign on private property. Trenching a yard in a residential area when you cut a turn too tight. Damaging dock equipment by pulling out when the light is red. That sort of thing.

Incidents can sometimes happen with no damage to anything. Blow through a 4-way stop and some 4-wheeler video's you doing it, and sends it to your safety department? That's probably an incident, even if it never gets reported to the cops.

 

Oh, after an accident. I guess I should have read the entire title. I thought is was about when joining a new company.
I’ll let myself out.

 

Look guys, 382.303 Post-accident testing is the section that you need to read.

If you are in an accident and get a ticket, and if someone is hurt, meaning goes to the hospital OR if one or more vehicles are disabled and need to be towed you get a drug and alcohol test.

An incident is what is generally defined by the carrier.

 

Correct, and the Reg you mentioned uses the definition of accident in 390.5. I don’t recall the Regs ever mentioning an incident so I would agree that an incident is whatever the carrier says it is outside the scope of the definition of accident by the Regs.

 

Basically, if anyone leaves in a wrecker, ambulance, or body bag... your getting tested. And remember, DOT has 8 hours to test you even once your free to go dont drink when you get parked.