Distracted driving is a danger on the roadways and can be especially dangerous when a truck driver is distracted. It is important for truck drivers to avoid driving distracted because any truck accident can result in catastrophic injuries and devastating consequences for victims.
Some safety tips to help truck drivers avoid driving while distracted can help keep everyone on the roadway safer. A Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration study found that approximately 11,000 truck accidents were caused by driver distraction outside of the truck. Anything that removes the truck driver’s eyes from the roadway can be considered a distraction. That is why truck drivers should only focus on things around them that are related to driving and should keep their eyes and focus away from anything outside of the truck that removes their attention and focus from the task of driving.
It is also critical that truck drivers refrain from texting while driving. A study conducted in 2009 found that texting while driving increased a truck driver’s likelihood of being involved in a safety-critical event, making it 23 times greater. On average, texting while driving removes the driver’s eyes from the roadway for 5 seconds which, while travelling at 55 miles per hour, is the length of a football field. Truck drivers should only use hands-free communication devices while driving.
In addition, truck drivers should avoid other forms of distracted driving such as reading while driving; operating a radio or navigation device while driving; grooming while driving; or eating while driving. These safety tips can help avoid a catastrophic truck accident. When truck accident victims have been injured by a distracted truck driver, personal injury legal protections can help them recover compensation for their damages suffered because of the truck driver’s negligence and are a resource victims should be familiar with.
