This blog recently discussed some of the dangers truck drivers can encounter on the road. During April, which is Distracted Driving Awareness Month, it is a good time to remember the dangers associated with distracted driving and review some tips to help avoid distracted driving and distracted driving-related car accidents. The U.S. Department of Transportation began Distracted Driving Awareness Month in 2014 when it noticed an increase in distracted driving and decided to focus on bringing greater awareness to the problem.
Professional truck drivers, of course, spend a number of hours navigating roadways throughout Florida and the rest of the country. A group of professional truck drivers from the American Trucking Association have tips to offer to help keep everyone safe on the roadways. One professional truck driver notes that distracted driving is the biggest problem he faces and an easy one to solve. One of the simplest tips is to place cell phones on silent and out of view while driving.
On that note, it is important to never text while driving. While it may seem that texting while driving takes a short and insignificant period of time, a lot can happen during a short period of time while on the roadway and driving. It is also important to not drive while fatigued or distracted by other activities and remember that driving is a time to focus on the road and not to multitask. It is also helpful to properly secure everything in the vehicle before driving.
Drivers and passengers should also set a positive example and speak up when distracted drivers threaten the goal of keeping others on the roadways safe. When a distracted-driving related car accident occurs, victims can face many unwanted challenges, which is why the legal process provides protections for victims of distracted drivers.
Source: Today’s Trucking, “TIPS: April marks Distracted Driver Awareness Month,” April 4, 2016
