Truck Driving Safety

TRUCKING SAFETYA CR.England Truckers have to constantly keep safety in mind when driving large trucks as it is obviously very different to driving a smaller vehicle. Being aware of all other vehicles on the road is a start, but it is by no means the only thing a trucker needs to do. Here are some common safety tips for truck drivers. STAY OFF THE PHONE • Cell phones distract drivers by reducing activity in the part of the brain that focuses on driving by as much as 37 percent. • Never text while driving - statistics show that drivers look away from the road an average of 46 seconds out of every minute while texting. • Texting while driving increases the chance of an accident by as much as 23 times the normal risk, • Ensure hands-free operation is available for your cell phone should the rare occasion arise that you need to use/answer the phone while driving. KNOW THE BLIND SPOTS • Large trucks have larger blind spots than regular vehicles. • Drivers often cannot see people or vehicles in these blind spots, including when they are making a turn. • If a person cannot see the trucker in the truck's side mirrors, the driver cannot see them. KEEP SPACE BETWEEN OTHER VEHICLES • Trucks with full trailers can weigh 10,000 pounds or more. This extra weight means they cannot stop as quickly as other vehicles. • Leaving adequate space between the truck and other vehicles is required so that the truck can come to a full stop without hitting the cars in front of it. ALWAYS TAKE BREAKS • For every 18 hours a person is awake, his or her judgment is just as impaired as that of someone with a blood alcohol content of 0.08 percent. • Truckers are required by regulations to take a half-hour break for every eight hours of driving. Skipping these breaks is not only against regulations, it is also dangerous. • Truckers are encouraged to take additional breaks if they become fatigued while driving. SOURCES: http://www.amfam.com/learning-center/my-business/safe-driving-tips.asp#.VIEUSTHF_HQ https://ntsi.com/quick-links/safety-articles/truck-safety/ http://www.thetruckersreport.com/library/trucking-safety/ http://www.trucking.org/ata%20docs/what%20we%20do/image%20and%20outreach%20programs/misc %20documents/Safety_Facts.pdf http://www.searcylaw.com/do-you-know/one-of-the-biggest-causes-of-big-truck-accidents-is-a-driver- texting-and-using-a-cell-phone/ CR.England