We’ve all seen those viral videos online of some of the most devastating crashes to take place in the road, some of the worst involving huge trucks that just go to show how dangerous the roads can be.
With statistics claiming there are around 500,000 accidents on the road each year involving trucks alone, it’s becoming more important than ever before to become mindful of how these accidents are caused, giving us the insight into how they can be reduced.
Today, we’re going to explore the five of the most common causes of trucking accidents, ensuring you’re educated on the matter, and to help you identify and minimize potential risks.
#1 – Fatigue
Easily the most common cause of trucking accidents is fatigue. Having to sit and drive a truck all day is not the most energizing job, and it can quickly wear you out, especially over long hours, days and even weeks.
This only gets worse if the driver is running late and stops having breaks or cuts sleep short, so they’re able to reach their destination in time. Always remember that sleep and breaks are vital in the truck driving industry;
and you must abide by the rules for the safety of everyone involved.
#2 – Speeding / Overtaking
One of the biggest aspects of truck driving is trying to get to your destination within the time frame that’s been allowed. In some cases, this may result in the truck driver speeding and trying to overtake.
Not only can this mean breaking the speed limits which can cause accidents, but slower speeds can also cause other drivers to become stressful, which is much more likely to result in an accident scenario.
#3 – Distraction
As we’ve already discussed, truck drivers can sit in the same place on the road for hours at a time, and this is bound to lead to boredom in some cases.
These distractions could increase the temptation for truck drivers to use their phones to make calls, write texts, or even for watching videos or checking social media.
#4 – Poor Maintenance Checks
It’s a legal requirement for all truck drivers to take the time to inspect their vehicle properly and to a high-quality before heading out onto the road. However, if a truck driver simply scans over the truck and misses an important error, this can quickly cause problems while out on the road.
This could be because the truck driver is lazy, or perhaps even because they received poor training and don’t know how to inspect the truck properly. Sometimes, a truck driver with little experience may not feel confident in the checks but continue to drive anyway.
#5 – Drugs & Substances
This final point refers to both drugs and alcohol, as there is a percentage of truck drivers that have been found with drugs or alcohol in their system that exceeds the legal limit, thus dramatically increasing the risk of an accident.
However, even some prescription drugs may be ill-advised for truck driving, since they’re able to impair decision-making abilities and judgment times.
Summary
As you can see, there is a broad range of considerations out there that both drivers and truck drivers need to be aware of when it comes to being on the road. If you ever need more information or legal help after an accident, check out www.fountaininjurylaw.com/practice-areas/indianapolis-semi-truck-accidents/
Safety should always be of the utmost importance and being mindful of these causes can help dramatically when it comes to reducing accidents on the road.