Distracted driving is one of the primary causes of road accidents everywhere in the world. In essence, drivers tend to multitask while on the wheel or driving at high speed. These behaviors increase road risks by endangering the driver, other road users, and pedestrians.
Commercial drivers rely on smart devices—personal or installed in the vehicle—to check for directions to their destinations. These smart gadgets can distract drivers through constant calling and checking text messages while driving at highway or moderate speeds. The driver’s focus on the road dwindles, and they might ignore signs such as speed limits and traffic lights.
The dangers of distracted driving are sometimes fatal and can leave accident victims with debilitating injuries. Perhaps because of the dangers of distracting driving, drivers need driver education on the issues so they can understand what can distract them while on the steering wheel.
Are you wondering what results from distracted driving? Below are 11 dangers commercial drivers must be aware of when driving distracted.
1. Over-speeding
Commercial vehicles are slow to start when traveling and take time to pick top speed. It’s easy for experienced and novice drivers to ignore how fast a delivery truck moves and look at their cell phones or other distractions.
These instances can lead to over-speeding on roads or exceeding the limits allowed on highways. So, applying instant brakes will be more difficult due to simple physics. A heavy object moving fast will be slow to stop unless an immovable object stops it.
Suppose you’re driving highway speeds on a road and a text message distracted you. If by chance you regain focus, the chances of stopping the vehicle are slim, and the dangers involved are the vehicle rolling or losing control of it. Alternatively, you can stop your truck in a designated area and respond to communications you received while in transit.
2. Choking On Your Food
Eating while driving is another distraction that drivers overlook. You’ll be putting yourself and other road users at risk as you try to balance your food and the steering wheel. Moreover, the dangers of choking on your food are severe, and you might struggle to breathe and control the vehicle.
Ideally, you should take a break and look for pit stops with eateries. Eat while you rest and reenergize your body before completing your run for the day.
3. Going Off Track
Commercial vehicles have designated lanes that help manage traffic on the roads. They guide drivers when maneuvering in congested areas in cities or areas with high foot and minimal vehicle traffic.
Driving distracted can get you driving out of your lane as the law requires. You might end up in a ditch or trouble with law enforcement for violating this traffic rule. In addition, you might miss crucial turns, wasting time and fuel.
4. Missing Destination And Signs
Distraction removes your focus on the road, leading to losing direction to your destination. If you’re in the delivery business, for instance, clients expect you to deliver your products or arrive on time.
Missing deliveries can have significant implications for your business, eventually leading to losses. In addition, you can misread signs in parking lots and highways that can attract penalties to your commercial driving license.
5. Accidents And Crashes
Accidents and car crashes are the most common results of distracted driving that affect drivers and pedestrians. Cell phones top the list of distractions for commercial drivers who cause road carnage. According to the National Safety Council, approximately 1.6 million car crashes are closely related to the use of cell phones while driving.
Accidents and car crashes are responsible for fatalities and catastrophic injuries on all roads. You must ensure you regain focus on the road and control your vehicle as required. If you need to take a call or reply to a message, do the right thing. Make sure you stop at a designated area before you look at your phone.
6. Loss Of Cargo And Time
Goods in transit can get lost due to a driver’s carelessness or drivers losing focus. Distracted driving is also a prominent culprit in the logistics business. It stems from not double-checking the condition of the vehicle and goods in transit.
Commercial drivers should stop from time to time and check the seals and straps on their vehicles. It’ll help safeguard the goods they loaded and avoid losing the cargo. In addition, you’ll protect other road users from running into goods flying out of your delivery vehicle.
7. Vehicle Wear And Tear
Commercial vehicles support businesses in delivering goods and services to their customers. They’re one cost that you must account for in your annual budget. However, commercial drivers are responsible for driving carefully and maintaining vehicles in good condition.
If a driver doesn’t drive safely, the vehicle’s maintenance cost can rise due to vehicle wear and tear. The common cause of this situation is when drivers don’t perform regular checks on their vehicle. Ensure you or the drivers in your fleet check your vehicles regularly. It’s critical you check the vehicles’ suspension and brakes as these components dictate how a vehicle handles on the road.
8. Environmental Pollution
The environment is a crucial component of life and requires the utmost care. Thinking about the environment means ensuring that commercial drivers must secure the materials they ferry and that they delivered it to their destination safely. For instance, commercial drivers carrying toxic chemicals or fuel must be alert throughout their journey.
Distractions on the road can lead to accidents, leading to spillage of harmful materials that endanger human and animal life. The consequences of these accidents can be significant to the company’s revenue and operations, not to mention any criminal or civil legal action victims might pursue against the company.
9. Sleeping On The Wheel
Sleep is a natural thing that everyone does. Getting enough hours of sleep can affect how you drive or control a vehicle at the speed you move. Sleeping on the wheel can result from medication, driver fatigue, or other factors. The repercussions can lead to accidents due to sleeping on the wheel. Reacting or controlling an 18-wheeler, for instance, can be challenging to a fatigued driver.
When you feel sleepy on the road, stop where it’s safe and take as much time as you need to take a nap to feel refreshed. Better yet, you can visit a truck stop to get a cup of joe or refill your thermos with it.
10. Misjudgments On the Roads
Commercial vehicles are undoubtedly larger than city vehicles. This means that a driver must take the vehicle’s size and weight into account when making tight turns. Moreover, you must approximate the speed of oncoming cars as you maneuver on the roads. Distractions can derail you, miscalculate how fast another motorist is going, or make you react too fast or slow to road signs. Ensure that you’re alert throughout while on the road, especially when you’re driving a large vehicle.
Final Thoughts
Distracted driving is a typical scene that many road users encounter. Cell phones are the number one culprits of distracted driving. And as a result, commercial drivers can lose their jobs when driving distracted. Vehicular accidents can also ruin a company’s reputation and possibly the business. Lastly, it’s the driver’s responsibility to control the vehicles and safeguard their safety and the lives of other road users.
However, these distractions are avoidable by changing driving behaviors and ensuring that they stay focused on the road. That way, they can protect other road users and ensure they can maintain their vehicle regularly.