Truckers need to take the safety of those around them into account when they drive. All too often, they allow themselves to become distracted by other things. This can lead to very serious crashes that can claim lives. Ultimately, even one distracted trucking crash is too many.
There are many things that can distract truckers, and it is imperative that they avoid them all. Some of these distractions might seem easily avoidable until you think about the nature of the job they have.
One of the possible distractions is the navigation system. Looking at a GPS device isn’t something that’s a good idea while they drive; however, they need to know where to go. They can increase their safety by setting the destination when they aren’t in motion. Even then, they can’t become so hooked on watching the screen that they miss things on the roadway.
Another distraction is texting, as well as using a cellphone. Truckers are often away from home for long periods of time, but this doesn’t mean that they don’t want to stay in touch with their loved ones. They will often turn to cellphones to talk to their spouse, kids and other family members. They may also need to use it to remain in contact with their dispatcher.
A driver who is texting is 23 times more likely to get into a crash than one who isn’t. It’s easy to understand why when you consider the fact that the average text takes 4.6 seconds to read or write. In this time, a trucker who is moving 55 miles per hour will drive the length of a regulation football field. That’s a lot of distance in which a crash can occur.
People who are injured by a semitruck crash may opt to seek compensation. This helps to transfer the financial responsibility from the victim to the liable party.