commercial driving safety tips

Top Commercial Driving Safety Tips: Protect Yourself and Others on the Road

Commercial driving presents a variety of challenges for both commercial vehicle operators and those sharing the road. At Morris & Dewett Injury Lawyers, we are committed to encouraging safe, legally compliant driving to protect everyone’s safety. 

We have compiled the following top commercial driving safety tips for truck drivers. If you have questions, our legal team is available to provide advice and legal guidance through a free consultation.

Prioritize Personal Well-Being

Your health and well-being are a priority when you’re on the road for days and weeks at a time. Eating healthy food, staying hydrated, and getting sufficient rest can help keep you alert behind the wheel. You can also take care of yourself by paying attention to your behavior on the road. Focus on safe driving by wearing your seat belt, maintaining your vehicle, and avoiding distractions. 

Use Safety Belts at All Times

Buckle up every time you get back on the road. If you have passengers, be sure they wear a safety belt as well. If you are involved in a crash, a safety belt can prevent you from striking the windshield, steering wheel, or dashboard. It can also keep you from being thrown from the vehicle if you roll your truck. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), half of vehicle occupants killed in collisions each year are unrestrained. Protect yourself from unnecessary injuries by keeping your seatbelt on whenever you’re driving.

Plan Your Trips in Advance

Unfamiliar roadways can pose a danger to commercial truck drivers and others sharing the road. When you don’t know where you are going, you can be distracted by trying to find your way on a map or navigation system. You could end up on routes where a loaded commercial vehicle exceeds size or weight restrictions. 

Planning your trips lets you anticipate exits and turns so you have time to switch lanes, signal, and check your blind spots. You can arrange rest stops, breaks, and meals in places that will accommodate a commercial truck. Planning also helps you avoid low overpasses, covered bridges, tight turns, and other obstacles to large commercial vehicles. If you are transporting hazardous materials, you must have a written route plan to keep you on the roads designated by state and local laws.

Drive Cautiously and Signal Your Lane Changes

If you miss an exit or turn, do not panic and try to turn around, take a shortcut, or suddenly change direction. Improper lane changes are a major cause of commercial truck accidents. Any sudden unplanned movement with a loaded commercial truck can cause an accident. Instead, activate your turn signal before making any turns. If you need to reroute, find a safe area to pull off the road, like a rest stop. Then, review your map or navigation to find a safe way to your destination. 

Check Weather Conditions Before Departing

As part of your planning process, check the weather conditions on your route for the duration of your trip. Stay updated on expected road conditions and allow additional time for inclement weather. 

Consider whether bad weather may prompt road closures due to high winds, snow, ice, or other factors. If your route is affected by inclement weather, you may need to reroute to your destination or adjust your delivery schedule to accommodate delays. Avoid going into bad weather with a tight delivery schedule, which can tempt you to drive too fast for the conditions.

Prepare for Different Road Conditions

Commercial truck driving often takes operators through a wide range of road conditions in one trip. Your truck may handle flat, well-maintained interstates just fine, but you should prepare for the road conditions for your entire route. Local roads can be narrow, rough, and damaged. In some areas, you may need to drive on dirt or gravel roads to reach your destination.

When planning your route, keep the road conditions in mind and pack the appropriate equipment, like chains or snow tires, to keep your truck on the road. If your cargo includes fragile or sensitive products, pack and secure them to withstand the road conditions you expect to encounter. 

Plan your delivery schedule to accommodate bad road conditions from construction, poor maintenance, and inclement weather. Rushing your delivery schedule can lead to vehicle damage, broken cargo, and motor vehicle accidents that cost much more in the long run.

Master Defensive Driving Techniques

Defensive driving is the best way to stay safe on the road. While most drivers try to be safe, it only takes one aggressive, distracted, or careless vehicle operator to cause a devastating accident. You can’t control how other drivers act, but you can take certain precautions to avoid collisions when another driver is unsafe.

Maintain Safe Following Distances

Because commercial trucks are much larger than traditional passenger vehicles, they need much more space to stop and maneuver on the road. Your fully loaded semi-truck can weigh as much as 30 times that of a typical passenger vehicle. With this much mass, turning and stopping takes longer.

Avoid rear-ending other vehicles by leaving sufficient space between your truck and the vehicle you are following. If someone pulls in front of you, slow down and leave enough room for you to stop, especially if you are going downhill.  

Be Aware of Blind Spots

Blind spots on a commercial truck are especially large due to the trailer’s size. Watch your blind spots with specialized mirrors, cameras, and proximity sensors to avoid hitting drivers beside you. Use your mirrors to effectively change lanes, turn corners, and monitor traffic around you. Focus on maintaining your lane, especially in windy conditions, so you don’t accidentally sideswipe someone who might be riding next to your trailer. 

Observe Speed Limits

Whether you are on a wide-open interstate or quiet country road, you may be tempted to drive faster to reach your destination sooner. Speeding is one of the most common factors in fatal motor vehicle accidents, according to the NHTSA. When you drive over the speed limit, you have less time to react when something unexpected occurs, and your stopping distance is greater. This is especially true of semi-trucks, which are massive and therefore harder to stop. 

Avoid Driving Too Fast for Conditions

Even driving the speed limit can be dangerous if the road conditions are icy, congested, or otherwise unsafe. Driving too fast for conditions can lead to more severe crashes and pose a greater potential for loss of control. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) advises commercial drivers to reduce speed by one-third on wet surfaces and one-half on roads with packed snow. You should drive even slower on slippery or icy roadways. If you cannot control the truck, it is better to pull off the road than risk a crash.

Conditions to watch out for include fog, ice, rain, snow, uneven roads, curvy roads, steep inclines, construction zones, gravel, intersections, and areas of heavy traffic.

Conduct Regular Vehicle Inspections

When traveling in a commercial vehicle, you are responsible for keeping your equipment in safe operating condition. Inspect your equipment regularly before, during, and after your trips to identify and fix any issues. 

Brake failure is one of the most common causes of truck accidents, especially on steep roads. Pre- and post-trip inspections can help you find and repair any potential problems with brakes and other critical systems before they become dangerous.

Ensure Proper Cargo Securement 

Shifting loads present a unique hazard for truck drivers. If a load is improperly secured, the cargo can fall or slide, damaging the cargo and the trailer. A shifting load affects the truck’s center of gravity and makes it harder to maneuver. Unbalanced loads can cause your truck to veer into other lanes or even overturn. Keep your cargo secure with straps, rope, netting, or tarps, and adhere to load limitations for your vehicle. 

Adhere to Vehicle Maintenance Schedules

Stick to regular maintenance schedules, with a focus on brake maintenance, tire rotation and replacement, hydraulic components, and engine operation. Commercial vehicles see hard daily use, sometimes bearing heavy loads over hundreds or even thousands of miles. Heavy extended use can cause significant wear on engine components, brake systems, hydraulics, steering, and suspension. Commercial truck tires can also wear out quickly, especially on hot or rough roads.

Regular vehicle maintenance can keep your semi-truck in safe operating condition and catch any worn or damaged parts you may miss during inspections.

Minimize Distractions While Driving

To safely drive a commercial truck, you should have your attention on the road at all times. Even looking away from the road to check your navigation or answer a call can cause a devastating accident. Avoid dangerous situations by minimizing distractions while you’re behind the wheel. Plan regular rest stops to eat, drink, and answer phone calls. Review your route during your stops and set up your GPS so you don’t have to look at it while you are on the road. 

Follow Hours-of-Service Regulations

The NHTSA reports that thousands of people are injured in drowsy driving crashes on U.S. roads each year. Studies show that the effects of sleep deprivation are similar to those of alcohol intoxication, compromising the driver’s decision-making abilities and reaction time.  

To reduce the risk of accidents due to drowsy driving, the FMCSA has established hours-of-service regulations for commercial truck drivers. These regulations limit the amount of time you can drive consecutively. They also establish rules for driving breaks and off-duty time after a certain number of hours. Become familiar with these regulations and follow them to keep yourself and others safe on the road.

Utilize Technology for Enhanced Safety

Commercial driving technology continues to advance, creating more tools to protect everyone on the road. Incorporate modern equipment like proximity sensors, side and rear cameras, GPS navigation systems, and dash cameras to keep yourself safe and protect your legal rights in the event of an accident. 

GPS Navigation Systems

GPS navigation provides instantaneous, hands-free navigation instructions as you progress on your driving route. Use the most up-to-date programs to receive timely updates about road conditions, closures, accidents, construction, and traffic delays. Some GPS programs offer route alternatives if a quicker option becomes available, which can save you time in traffic. 

Dash Cameras and Their Benefits

Dash cameras don’t protect you while you drive, but they can provide critical evidence if you are in an accident. Trucks are difficult to maneuver and stop suddenly, so you may have trouble avoiding an accident with a careless, reckless, or negligent driver. 

Dashcam footage can help you prove that an accident was not your fault, protecting you from unfair accusations and costly litigation. A commercial truck accident lawyer can use evidence like dashcam footage to defend your legal rights after a truck crash. 

Be Mindful of Surrounding Drivers

Between specialized mirrors and proximity-monitoring technology, truck drivers can be more mindful of drivers in the surrounding area. However, even the best technology can leave blind spots where you can lose sight of smaller vehicles. 

Keep your eye on vehicles near you and observe their speeds and trajectories. Pay special attention to drivers who are passing or changing lanes, and avoid switching lanes quickly if you lose sight of a vehicle — they might be next to you. Keep vehicles ahead of you at a safe distance, at least 15 seconds ahead, so you can stop or turn to avoid collisions if they change speed or direction suddenly. Focus on the vehicles in front of you, and watch for brake lights so you can react quickly and safely.

Make Turns Carefully

When turning on city streets, make sure there are no vehicles inside the turning radius, where they might be struck or crushed by your trailer. Make wide turns carefully to avoid hitting other vehicles, signs, and traffic signals. Flip your turn signal on and double-check the surrounding area before you begin to make the turn. Obey traffic signs and signals at the intersection and avoid jackknifes by not taking the corner too fast or tight.

Understand the Importance of Rest Breaks

Even if you feel fresh and awake, taking frequent rest breaks can help you maintain focus and protect your health. Drivers who take periodic rest breaks can recover from drowsiness and reduce the risk of fatigue-related crashes. 

In addition, moving around helps you stay healthy and reduces potential health risks like stroke, kidney and bladder issues, musculoskeletal pain, chronic fatigue, and cardiovascular disease. Safeguarding your health and well-being can help protect you and those around you from the negative effects of long driving hours. 

Prepare for Emergency Situations

When you’re on the road for hours and days at a time, you may come across situations that require an emergency response. While you cannot plan for every contingency, you can benefit from having a plan for common emergency situations. Examples of commercial truck emergencies include: 

  • Engine overheating or component failure
  • Load shifting
  • Electrical malfunctions
  • Tire blowouts
  • Fuel pump or fuel line failure
  • Brake system failure
  • Accidents with motor vehicles, pedestrians, or animals
  • Hazardous materials spills
  • Weather-related emergencies
  • Driver medical emergencies like a heart attack, seizure, or stroke

Establish a contingency plan for emergencies so you can act quickly when the unexpected occurs. 

Steps to Take After a Commercial Truck Accident

If you are in a crash, call or radio for emergency assistance right away. Emergency services, whether it is highway patrol or local law enforcement, can record the details of the accident, facilitate the exchange of information between involved parties, and ensure you receive emergency medical care if necessary. 

Following an accident, you should seek medical assistance and report the accident to your employer. Depending on your employment terms, you may be eligible to file a workers’ compensation claim. You may also be involved in a lawsuit if the accident resulted in property damage, injury, or death. 

To protect your legal rights, contact a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible after the accident. Although your insurance company or employer may have an attorney, they will not always look out for your interests when someone is suing the trucking company for an accident. You could benefit from having a lawyer determining who’s at fault in a commercial vehicle accident and defending your legal rights as the driver. The skilled truck accident lawyers at Morris & Dewitt can listen to your story and help you understand your legal options.

Stay Educated on Driving Regulations

Driving regulations are continuously updated and can change between states. Whether you are a local commercial driver or a cross-country trucker, you should follow these truck driver safety tips and remain educated on state, federal, and local regulations for the areas where you plan to drive. 

At Morris & Dewett Injury Lawyers, we want you to know your legal rights and obligations as a commercial driver. Our team understands the unique challenges that commercial truck drivers face across the U.S., and we are here to answer your questions. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with one of our dedicated truck accident lawyers. 

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