The latest statistics reveal that almost 5,000 people die in truck-related accidents per year. Many of those fatalities are the occupants of other vehicles. Commercial truck drivers must employ as many safety measures as possible to keep themselves and others safe on the road.
Do you own a small business? Do you hire commercial drivers? Accidents cost lives and money, so make sure your drivers are safe.
Check out these five essential commercial driver safety tips!
1. Don’t Drive Distracted
This should be obvious but unfortunately, distracted driving is the number one cause of collisions on the road. About 90% of rear-end collisions happen because of delayed reactions due to distractions.
Drivers should always avoid:
- Talking on the phone
- Texting
- Eating
- Smoking
It’s tempting to grab a bite on the road because commercial drivers are under deadlines, but distracted driving is deadly. A large vehicle is hard to stop and maneuver so driver vigilance is crucial.
2. Use Dashcams
Dashcams can protect your drivers as well as other cars on the road. With a dashcam, there are no more worries about insurance claim scams.
Police often blame truck drivers when it’s not clear who caused an accident. A dashcam can give you the evidence you need to exonerate your driver, which can save saving thousands of dollars in damages.
You’ll also get increased accountability from your drivers.
3. Understanding Blind Spots
Visibility is challenging when driving a big commercial truck. There are more blind spots in a truck than a regular passenger car. Drivers must know and understand their blind spots when operating the truck.
Commercial drivers should use the quick-check method when on the road. Check side view mirrors every 10 seconds or so to increase awareness of the proximity of other vehicles. Drivers should also keep lane changing to a minimum.
It’s good to be aware of surrounding vehicles in case of a sudden blowout or other unexpected road conditions. Keep a roadside assistance number like sosmobiletire.com on your phone in case you need a quick tire change.
4. Follow Hours of Service Rules
The Hours of Service regulations are there for everyone’s protection. Enforce the rules with your drivers. The rules reduce fatigue and decrease accidents.
Driving tired is like driving drunk. Your ability to operate a vehicle safely is impaired when you drive too many hours without a break.
A commercial driver can’t drive more than 14 hours after reporting for duty. After 14 hours, the driver must take a 10-hour break. Drivers must take a 30-minute break after eight hours of driving time.
5. Avoid Hard Braking, Cornering, and Accelerating
Hard braking, fast cornering, and accelerating often lead to accidents on the road. Drivers should avoid these. install monitoring devices in the trucks that alert to this type of bad driving behavior.
Commercial Driver Safety
Commercial driver safety measures are especially important for reducing accidents and fatalities on our roads and highways. Make driver safety a priority and enforce these precautions when on the road.
Keep reading the blog for more informational articles and tips!