Top 10 Road Safety Tips That Every Truck Driver Needs to Follow
Top truck driver expertise goes beyond simply being capable of leading an 18-wheeler. Instead, the best professionals are well-rounded individuals with some distinguishing attributes that differentiate them from the competition.
Sound driving necessitates a high level of skill, a high level of responsibility for the safety of others, and a high level of sound judgement. Therefore, it is critical to be concerned about safety. It’s the thing that will ensure your survival when you are confronted with those terrifying moments, especially while driving a truck!
Why is Safety Crucial for Truck Drivers?
On the planet of driving trucks, safety is a major concern. The American Trucking Association estimates an annual investment of $9.5 billion in trucking safety. It encompasses operator safety procedures, which account for 36% of this industry’s expenditure. Other safe operation spending classifications include onboard safety devices, safety incentive compensation, and implementation of safety regulatory requirements.
By enhancing your truckers’ safeness, you not only focus on ensuring their security, but you can also reduce spending associated with injuries, claim payouts, and health coverage premium increases. The good thing is that you can continue improving truck driver safety by fostering a workplace culture that vigorously coaches, trains, and rewards the most cautious drivers.
The Safety Road Tips Curated for Every Truck Driver
Below are a few essential pointers to remember no matter where you are in your truck driving career. Also, Keep these safety tips in mind the next time you’re on the road.
Let’s look at some safety tips that every driver, whether a beginner or an experience, must keep in mind.
- Always Prioritize Wearing Seatbelts
According to study results, approximately one in every six truck drivers does not wear seat belts. Yet, seatbelts are needed and represent the most avoidable method of preventing serious injuries. Every year, not wearing a safety belt causes more than 40% of crash-related causalities.
- Refrain from Using Mobile Phones While Driving
In many states, using a smartphone while driving is negligent and illegal. Distracted driving can result from conversing, text messaging, or staring at your mobile screen.
- Keep an Eye on the Blind Spots
Being in such a big truck so high off the ground can make it tough to see cars behind or even next to their vehicle drivers who operate tractor-trailers or refers. A blind spot is any place around a vehicle that a driver cannot straightforwardly see. Based on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), blind spots are wholly accountable for over 840,000 collisions each year. The majority of these collisions happen when drivers change lanes. Because rear-view and side mirrors often cannot recognize blind spots, encourage drivers to evaluate their shoulders and out the windows when changing direction. Motivate them to leave plenty of space between their vehicles when trying to merge.
- Inspection is the Key
Trucks, like any other vehicle, are prone to breakdowns, primarily when not correctly maintained or thoroughly checked. Therefore, before you depart, carefully examine your vehicle to ensure that all elements are in good condition and that nothing impedes safe driving, including your semi-truck bed.
Make a quick checklist of things to inspect, such as tyres, brakes, brake lights, headlamps, wiper blades, and any accessories if you don’t check them already. Then, verify each element of each one by one to make sure your truck is fully prepared to go!
- Keep a Tab on the Speed Limit
Truck drivers must always follow the legal speed limit, even if that means driving slower than the posted speed limit and the traffic movement.
Trucks are much more unsafe when travelling at high speeds because they are significantly heavier and more extensive, unlike many passenger vehicles. Therefore, truck drivers must also modify their speed according to the circumstances.
- Follow the Three-Second Rule
Regarding preventing forward and rear clashes, drivers should follow the three-second principle. According to this rule, truckers must enable three full seconds between the time the car in front of them arrives at a specific point on the street and the time required for the truck driver to arrive at that exact point. Drivers must significantly raise the follow time to five seconds if there is heavy rain or breezes. If the roads are icy, drivers must boost the follow time to 10 seconds.
- Be Mentally Prepared for Tackling Emergency Situations
Situations can drastically alter while driving, particularly over long distances. So start encouraging your truckers to be geared up for emergencies, such as poor driving situations or vehicle breakdowns. Drivers who stock their cabs with water, refreshments, a first aid kit, a clothing change and comforters can weather unforeseen circumstances that may necessitate them to stay off the road or join the queue for vehicle maintenance for extended periods.
- Make a Habit of Checking Your Mirrors
How frequently must truckers inspect their mirrors? To be fully conscious of vehicles entering your blind spots, check every 8-10 seconds. Maintain constant awareness. Keep a consistent scan pattern by paying attention to your west coast mirrors, hood mirrors, the road ahead, and gauges.
- Slow Down for Unfamiliar Curves & Turns
Truck drivers must know their speed, particularly throughout turns and curves, along with lane changes. If the driver is unfamiliar with specific routes, they need extra caution before taking a leap of faith. One wrong step or decision could end up in severe collisions and might result in tragic death.
More than any other vehicle type, Trucks are susceptible to slipping, sliding, and flipping when turning at full speed. So take your foot off the gas when you’re about to make a turn to keep yourself and other operators protected!
- Get Plenty of Rest Before Starting Your Journey
A more healthful diet and adequate rest will keep you more vigilant on the road. Ensure you get sufficient rest and stop if you feel sleepy. Take a quick treat, stretch your legs, or snooze. People who consume unhealthy foods, sweetened drinks, and calorically dense foods can cause drowsiness, so look for healthier options whenever possible.
These are excellent safety guidelines for truckers to pursue. These trailers are extensive devices, and the operator must maintain complete concentration on all occasions. I believe it is critical for not only the drivers but also the equipment to be at peak performance. It can significantly reduce breakdowns with regular Business maintenance.
Wrapping Up
Working securely, driving safely, and heading home to your family without any injury must always be your top priorities when you’re on the road. Remember that no load is worth risking your life, so drive defensively. Slow down or stop if the traffic conditions are too harmful.
If you’re receiving text messages on your mobile, what you’re doing can wait till you halt because those 4.6 seconds spent staring at that message have been the last 4.6 seconds of far too many people’s lives. Check that your vehicle is well-maintained, that your brakes work, that your tyres are in good shape, and that you can steer safely.
Keep your head up, watch for blind spots, pull over if you’re exhausted, and always drive safely like TATA Truck, which always offers great performance, efficient fuel efficiency and great mileage.
So, It is the right time to embrace these road safety tips and follow them practically before starting your journey or covering miles.
