Are You A Truck Driver? Here’s How To Stay Safe
When you are spending long hours on the road going through heavy traffic and covering hundreds of miles a day, chances are high that you will encounter some difficulties along the way. Road accidents are not the only concern that truck drivers need to keep an eye out for. With extensive use of a vehicle, wear and tear are natural, and truck drivers often find themselves stuck during a shipment due to mechanical failure. Moreover, modern-day trucks are fitted with complex electronic systems, and the vehicle can come to a standstill even if a single electrical system fails.
While machinery failure is common, as truck drivers are moving large quantities of valuable stock, they can fall victim to crimes including theft, vandalism, and even kidnapping. As a truck driver, you are exposed to several threats on a regular basis and in order to ensure that you can pursue your profession safely, these are some of the most important things you should consider.
1. Insurance
Insurance companies identify truck drivers as being high-risk individuals due to the nature of their profession. They are constantly on the move, situated in potentially dangerous situations, and are doing this on a regular basis. For these reasons, it can be difficult to find suitable insurance for them. With a bit of effort, you can find a type of insurance that will give you coverage for your health and your vehicle, and maybe even for your cargo as well. If your employer doesn’t already have insurance then you should get independent insurance for yourself. If you own or manage a fleet of commercial vehicles then you should get commercial insurance that will cover all your vehicles and your drivers or contractors.
2. Legal Cover
If you are ever faced with the unfortunate circumstance of an accident or a robbery, insurance is not the only protective measure that will cover you for your loss. You can also seek legal assistance. The commercial vehicle attorneys at BrooksLawGroup.com explain that whether you need to defend yourself in front of your employer, insurance, or the party you have had a collision with, having proper legal representation is critical. In fact, even insurance companies may ask you to prove that you are innocent and worthy of compensation in the case that you request reimbursement. Legal cover can protect you in many situations and, hiring the best truck accident lawyer in Austin is far better than representing yourself on your own.
3. Safety Systems
As they say, prevention is better than cure. When it comes to driving commercial vehicles, ensuring your own and your vehicle’s safety depends heavily on how cautiously you drive. However, the safety of the driver and the vehicle can be improved through the latest safety systems designed specifically for large vehicles. While most modern vehicles come equipped with a lot of safety systems that employ cameras and sensors all around them, if you are using an older vehicle that doesn’t have these systems, you can purchase after-market options and use those. Most driver assistance features can easily be installed on older vehicles, though you just need to ensure that they are installed by a qualified technician so that your vehicle remains road legal and all the systems are properly calibrated.
4. Work Routines
In many serious accidents, the culprit is not the vehicle, intoxication, or faulty mechanical parts, but rather, fatigue. While driving only requires you to sit, piloting a large commercial vehicle carrying heavy loads of inventory is a mentally challenging task. Having to do this for several hours on end on a daily basis leaves drivers mentally fatigued, seriously hindering their ability to concentrate while they drive. A high workload and insufficient rest negatively impact a driver’s ability to carefully navigate a journey. Moreover, long, strenuous work routines can be extremely monotonous, making it even more difficult for the driver to keep concentration levels up during long journeys.
The key is to limit the amount of work you do and have enough rest between each leg of your journey so that you are mentally and physically prepared to drive. Ideally, driving shifts should be limited to 8 hours, and you should try to do these 8 hours during the daytime.
As a driver, you need to know about your vehicle, yourself, and what to do in an emergency situation. Many times serious problems can be avoided if the driver knows what to do at the right time and is prepared to manage a hazardous situation. Simple vehicle tips and tricks can help you fix a problem on the go which can get your vehicle to the next stop where you can get proper assistance. Basic things such as fire extinguishers and first aid kits can be extremely helpful in times of need. By getting proper guidance and education about safe driving techniques, you can protect yourself and others around you on the road.
