Trucker Safety Guidelines that Could Help Us all get Home in One Piece
Cincinnati courier service drivers pay more attention to safety than most drivers. A study done by the University of Michigan showed accidents involving commercial vehicle were mostly caused by passenger cars (81-91%).
Crashes aren’t only dangerous; they get more expensive every year. The average jury verdict over $1 million went up almost 1,000 percent from 2010 to 2018.
A recent Large Truck Crash Causation Study by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration showed
- 32% of collisions involved lane departures,
- 29% were due to cargo shifts, vehicle failures, out-of-control speed and adverse road conditions and
- 22% stemmed from rear-end collisions.
Making sure our drivers follow Redkey’s strict safety guidelines helps keep us one of the most affordable delivery service companies in Cincinnati. Whether you drive for a living or not, you can safeguard both your wallet and your life with the following tips.
(Read to the end for some hilarious driver safety rules still on the books in some areas!)
12 Road Safety Tips for Everyone
1. Prioritize Yourself
- Set a goal to get 7+ hours of sleep nightly
- Find locations to take short walks (not shoulders of highways)
2. Plan Your Trip
Stay updated on roads, traffic, construction and state regulations. Be vigilant about high crime areas and traffic congestion.
Know the weather forecast for where you will be driving. Inclement weather leads to 21% of crashes.
3. Disconnect
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, around 8% of all fatal traffic accidents involve a driver using a cell phone.
4. Buckle Up
The Centers for Disease Control notes you are 30x more likely to be ejected during a crash if you aren’t wearing a seatbelt.
5. Drive Defensively
- Watch blind spots
- Be cautious when turning or switching lanes
- Follow at a safe distance
- Reduce your speed on curves
6. Check Your Mirrors Every 8-10 Seconds
7. Use Lights to See and be Seen
Keep your headlights on, at a minimum, a half-hour before dusk and a half-hour after sunrise. Turn on your turn signal early and keep it on until you have completed the turn..
8. Do Pre & Post Trip Inspections
Federal rules mandate at least one daily inspection for truckers, documented in their hours of service log. We would all do well to check our vehicle’s steering, brakes and tires before turning on the car.
9. Avoid Distractions
- Silence your radio in heavy traffic, bad weather or tough conditions
- Set your GPS and eat any food before starting the engine
10. Prepare for Dangerous Road Conditions
Dangerous road conditions pose risks to everyone on the road, particularly those commercial drivers. Be vigilant for:
- Wet or icy roads
- Fog
- Disabled vehicles
- Road construction
- Accidents
- Animals on the road
11. Take Breaks
Driver fatigue mirrors driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and is a major cause of accidents. FMCSA tackles this with rules that would be good for everyone to follow:
- 14 hours of on-duty time in 24 hour; 11 hours of driving time
- 8 hours of driving before a 30-minute break
- 10 hours sleep to reset hourly limits
12. Maintain Space Cushion
Keep 7-8 seconds between you and the vehicle ahead; 14 in poor weather.
Funny laws still on the books
- In Missouri, you can’t drive with a loose bear in your vehicle.
- Make sure you don’t use the road as a bed in Eureka, CA: it’s against the law.
- In Alabama, you can’t drive with a blindfold on.
- Watch your language in your car or truck in Rockville, MD. It’s illegal if anyone can hear you.
- In Hilton Head, SC, you can’t keep trash in your truck.
At Redkey Express, one of the best delivery service companies in Cincinnati, we actively seek and hire drivers who focus on safety, and provide ongoing safety training.
If everyone followed our rules, we’d all be a lot safer. Be careful out there!