Working long hours as a trucker may lead to an increased potential for an accident. Many devastating truck crashes happen suddenly, due to distractions on the road.
Knowing what distractions are most common can help you and everyone else on the road stay safe.
Billboards and signs
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, large signs and eye-catching billboards can make truck drivers take their eyes off the road just long enough for a crash to occur. These brightly colored advertisements can cause a serious distraction, especially if the driver is already tired.
Make sure to look ahead at the cars around you and keep your hands on the wheel at all times. Even a few seconds of staring can cause a truck to swerve wildly and cause a crash, due to its massive size.
Food
While it may seem simple enough to hold a drink or snack with one hand and steer with the other, many drivers lose control of their vehicles while eating. This distraction can leave you unable to look for oncoming cars or react properly in time.
Pulling off to the side of the road for a meal is the best way to avoid this.
Texts or calls
Using a cell phone while operating a truck can cause your mind and hands to wander. Taking your eyes off the road to look at messages can increase the likelihood of sideswiping or crashing into a smaller vehicle.
The added danger of a truck’s various blindspots can also cause accidents. There are many ways for items like food and billboards to distract you, which makes it even more important for truckers to focus on the road.
