Distracted driving is more than texting, and it’s very dangerous for all drivers- especially truck drivers.
Distracting driving is one of the highest causes of car accidents and is a critical topic for every driver on the road. Truckers are on the road for long periods of time as their career, so they have a huge responsibility to prevent distracted driving and to drive as safely as possible. About 70 percent of drivers have admitted to distracted driving, as cell phone use has become an extreme issue among drivers.
What Is Distracted Driving?
While most people believe distracted driving is using their cell phone, it’s official definition is any activity that could divert a person’s attention away from the primary task of driving. This means that it can include changing the radio or song on your phone, eating and drinking, reading a map, or even using a navigation system that is too distracting. Texting is the huge cause of distracted driving accidents, however, since it requires visual, manual, and cognitive attention from the driver. Many people don’t realize how much time it takes to look down at their phone and send a quick text, but that time can easily result in any number of accidents.
The Law
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has banned commercial truck drivers from texting, then later banned all use of hand-held cell phones. Then ban defines texting as manually entering text into or reading from, an electronic device. Drivers are subjected to fines up to $2,750 for using a cell phone, and employers are at risk of being penalized if they allow or require drivers to use hand-held communication devices while driving.
Truckers And Distraction
Truck drivers spend hours of their days behind the wheel and often have to combat mental and physical exhaustion. Many believe that truckers are more prone to distraction to the time they spend driving and their exhaustion levels. While the average person checks their phone multiple times per day, truck drivers must resist the urge to check their phone during long hauls. This can be difficult, especially when needing to communicate with someone, but truck drivers must know the dangers of using a cell phone and make the decision to pull over when they feel the need to use their phone.
As stated earlier, using maps and eating are also considered distractions while driving. Once again, spending long hours on the road means that a driver needs to do things throughout the day that many people don’t need to do in their car, including eating snacks or lunch. Since eating requires a driver to take their eyes off the road and take one hand off the wheel, it’s safest to pull off the road and take a few minutes to eat instead of risking distracted driving.
For All Your Trucking Needs
Evan Transportation provides trucking and transportation services for clients throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. All of our drivers and staff are offered competitive salaries, benefits, and are guaranteed to be home every day. Interested in finding out more? Visit us online or give us a call at 443-673-3365. For even more information, visit us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, LinkedIn, and Google+.