Safety Tips for Truck Drivers

1. Safety Tips for Truck Drivers

2. Truckers have to constantly keep safety in mind when driving large trucks as it is obviously very different to driving a smaller vehicle. Being ware of all other vehicles on the road is a start, but it is by no means the only thing a trucker needs to do.

3. Don’t change lanes too often A way to minimize accidents is to consistently stay in the same lane and always use a signal if changing over to another lane. Always remember to check for blind spots and changing lanes can increase your chance of potential accidents.

4. 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%. Never text while driving. Ensure hands-free operation is available for your mobile should the rare occasion arise that you need to use /answer the phone while driving.

5. Share the road Trucks with full trailers can weigh 5000 Kgs 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.

6. Utilize roadside assistance gear to alert If your truck is in need of roadside assistance on the side of the road it is important to be prepared with roadside assistance gear to alert fellow drivers on the road. Be sure to use cones, flashers and road flares that offer a further visual that communicates and prepares drivers to slow down as they pass by.

7. Know The Blind Spots Large trucks have larger blind spots then 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.

8. Weather awareness Always consider the weather as a safety factor in your daily drive. In the winter season it is important to be prepared to slow down in inclement weather conditions that will involve driving below the speed limit. Considering these types of factors will allow you to best prepare as the weather comes into play.

9. 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 % 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.

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