As professional truck drivers – Truckers must hold a commercial driver’s license as a requirement of their job. Obtaining a CDL means agreeing to adhere to stricter standards behind the wheel than ordinary drivers. Those standards reflect the great responsibility truckers bear for operating their huge, heavy vehicles with care and caution. Drivers who do not follow road safety standards risk being reported and punished for their unsafe driving even if they do not cause an accident.
According to the FMCSA, defensive driving can help to prevent sideswipe-related accidents, including:
• Operating at a safe speed
• Maintaining a safe following distance from others
• Heeding blind spots can play a decisive role in preventing sideswipe accidents.
The FMCSA recommends drivers check their mirrors every 8-10 seconds to be aware of vehicles entering and exiting blind spots.
The FMCSA notes the importance of changing lanes smoothly and safely, including:
• Using turn signals well in advance to indicate intent to change lanes.
• Visually scanning for adjacent traffic and road hazards before executing a lane change.
According to the NHTSA, almost 850 people died in red-light running crashes in 2019.
Drivers simply need to stop on red to avoid preventable injuries and deaths
We are at a higher risk while in intersections – Delayed perception occurs when you are distracted, confused, or diverted by other competing hazards while the ultimate hazard is rapidly developing (e.g., watching pedestrians, looking for street signs, etc.).
