Semitruck drivers have a lot of responsibilities to deal with when they’re on the road. It’s critical that they’re in the right mental and physical shape to handle those.
A trucker who’s driving their rig in the proper manner can help to keep others on the road safe. There are many behaviors that can lead to serious issues on the road. Let’s look at a few of the most dangerous ones.
Fatigued driving
Truckers are often on a tight schedule, but they still must comply with the limits set by the Hours of Service regulations. When truckers are fatigued, they can’t drive safely. However, they often have to try to power through the fatigue because of tight delivery deadlines.
Impaired driving
No trucker should get behind the wheel if they’re impaired by alcohol or drugs. Impairment slows reaction time and can lead to serious crashes. The issue isn’t limited only to illegal substances. Over-the-counter and prescription drugs can cause impairment. Many medications have labels that warn users not to operate heavy machinery. A semitruck certainly qualifies as heavy machinery.
Distracted driving
Distractions, such as cellphone use or checking a GPS device, can lead a trucker to miss important things on the road. Even a 5-second distraction can be problematic. In only five seconds, that semitruck will barrel down a football field length of road if the rig is moving 55 miles per hour.
People who are struck by a semitruck may need urgent medical care. When negligence is a factor in the crash, the victim may opt to pursue a claim for compensation. There are time limits for this in California, so be sure to get started right away.
