Preventing an accident from happening is a lot easier than you think!
Continuous efforts are needed in the trucking industry to cut down the number of truck accidents. In most cases, these accidents are preventable if precautionary measures are taken. There are several reasons why thousands of trucks get into accidents every year.
Causes of Accidents
Trucks are significantly harder to operate than most vehicles and that is why they cannot be treated the same. It is important to note that just because a driver gets into an accident, does not necessarily mean they are at fault. For example, roads can become slippery, equipment can unexpectedly fail and drivers can be assigned too many consecutive hours of work. However, that does not mean that truck drivers should not receive blame when they act irresponsibly. Examples of such would be unprescribed drug use, neglect of truck maintenance and lack of mental focus behind the wheel.
Technology Usage and Truck Maintenance
In today’s digital world, we have technology at our fingertips. The entire trucking industry would be wise to take advantage of what is available in the market such as global positioning systems for behavior analytics and mobile eyes to monitor driver performance. In addition, truck maintenance is extremely important in the trucking industry. In order to help prevent occurrences such as failed brakes and bad lights, routine inspection and maintenance are an absolute must.
Educate Drivers
It can be argued that the best way to reduce the number of truck accidents is to educate drivers. This can be done in training programs where drivers can be taught to respect speed regulations and learn overall driver safety. Truck drivers should be advised to take frequent stops to rest, always have their truck inspected and avoid driving at night or in poor weather conditions when possible. Education will only reduce the number of accidents and make roads safer.
Baltimore Freightliner-Western Star for All of Your Trucking Needs
Whether you are looking to upgrade your fleet to tow trucks or simply interested in the latest trucking technology, you can rely on Baltimore Freightliner-Western Star. We have provided top-notch service for the trucking industry for 30 years and would love to assist you in buying a new top-of-the-line truck, finding the specialty parts you need, or repairing your truck. Give us a call toll-free at 800-832-7278 or locally at 410-685-4474, or contact us online. To find out more about what we are up to, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Google+.
Tags: truck accidents, trucking industry