There are millions of trucks on American roads all going here and there delivering and loading. Whether you’re exporting goods and need to pack that container load full of cars, auto parts, computers, beverages, fuel, petrochemicals, aircraft and aircraft engines, or whatever else Americans are export leaders in, you’ll need trucks for your movements.
How to Avoid and Prevent Common Truck Accidents
Truck driving is a big-time thriving industry currently providing millions of work opportunities through shipment of goods to different towns and counties across the US. Truck makers are smiling just as the drivers are. It is a lucrative venture and everyone seeking a more independent work lifestyle considers that as an option. You’ll make cool cash on a daily basis.
Before you put on those boots after having completed your six months of truck driving lessons, you need to know that truck driving is quite a treacherous job. The dangers inherent in driving are enormous. Many drivers end up severely injured from crashes. The sheer size of trucks alone makes truck accidents severe and highly destructive to lives and properties.
A number of factors are responsible for these truck accidents. Some are excessive speeding, driver fatigue, distracted driving, engine failure, and bad weather conditions.
For safe truck driving, you must give out all attention at all times. The slightest distraction such as a brusque changing of a radio station could result in a horrific control failure and a disastrous crash. Such crashes lead to millions of dollars in damages and medical bills causing great financial pain to both driver and trucking companies.
If you were out delivering a truckload of tobacco from tobacco-rich Virginia when it all happened, it’s best you get a truck accident lawyer in Richmond, Virginia for ease of access as well as for the best of attention. To lay facts bare, you’re actually better off with an attorney than to face tough legal battles on your own.
Here are some proven ways to stay clear of truck accidents entirely
Rest Well
You would be spending hours upon hours on the roads driving relentlessly mostly because the owners of the goods are on your neck putting you in a tight corner with no room to rest. The goods must arrive at the intended depot at a particular time. While trying to please the trucking companies, as well as the customers that have the goods, drivers try their best to stay awake and push the truck on and on towards the destination. While there may be no issues sometimes luckily, other times things could take a different turn, and a little dozing off would be all that was needed for that serious crash.
You have to take time to rest well. Avoid going on when you know and can see clearly that you’re no longer the one in charge. You feel drowsy. Why not take a little time off the road, park the truck and have one or two hours of rest. Since most long-distance interstate travels would be done at night, sleep well during the day and not spend the time chitchatting.
Use A Controllable Speed
There is a speed limit on nearly every street permitted by law. It is wise to stay by those limits and not cross them to avoid those unwanted crashes. Many truck drivers in an attempt to gain on time and deliver their goods quickly increase their speed above the limit and above what they can handle in case there is a sudden need to brake.
Remember that speed doesn’t always pay. Even a little delay caused by hitting something because of your overspeeding could have been avoided altogether if you had been going at recommended speeds.
Watch The Weather
Don’t drive against the weather. Depending on how heavy it’s snowing or raining, you will need to adjust your driving speed to a lower rate just to be on the safe side. When you think to push it and go on as usual since the headlights and wipers are working well, you may lose control much more easily considering the new wet state of the roads.
Check Your Vehicle’s Condition
Perform periodic checks and maintenance on your truck. Inspect them again before starting a journey. Something could have gone wrong somewhere that you didn’t notice before. You’ll be able to see it now and fix it appropriately. Examine the breaks and tires properly too.
Keep Maximum Concentration
There is no better way to say that you must put all your attention on the road. You could have someone scream that part at you from time to time during your driving. It may be annoying but it will surely be worth it. It’s better you get angry and drive better than to be more relaxed and go down to doom. Don’t be distracted. Use the cell phones sparingly if at all and even in those few times you would like to use them; make sure you park.
The bottom line is that it pays to be careful. Be careful the way you drive and be very watchful too. With the big machine, death is many times inevitable in a crash and that’s why attentiveness matters a lot.