Why Commercial Truck Driver Distraction is on the Rise
When you cruise past other drivers on the road, it’s common to see their heads tucked down, undoubtedly looking at their phones. But we generally expect better of commercial truck drivers—and for good reason. They undergo extensive training on road safety and safe vehicle handling and distracted driving flies in the face of all of that. Unfortunately, distracted driving has started to increase among truck drivers across the United States. This is frightening when you consider the fact that some experts believe distracted driving is as dangerous as drunk driving.
Learn more about this growing problem and how you can keep yourself safe. If you’ve been injured in a truck driving accident, the team at Reeves & Mestayer is here to help you. Call us at 1-855-558-2977 to set up a time to meet with our team now.
Technological Advances and a Wider Array of Distractions
Changes in technology are a huge part of why commercial drivers are at greater risk of distracted driving nowadays. Technology has jumped leaps and bounds in the last decade, and many commercial trucks now have infotainment systems that make it easy to adjust music, call loved ones, or communicate with other truck drivers. Additionally, smartphones have become more intuitive and engaging than ever.
For some, it’s almost impossible to ignore the lure of social media, YouTube, and other distractions that your phone places at your fingertips. And the longer a driver goes without an accident, the more likely they are to keep driving while distracted. They get a false sense of safety and assume that they are good enough at driving to do so while distracted.
Pressure Within the Industry
The trucking industry is incredibly demanding, with some professionals even coming out and calling the work environment toxic. Trucking companies, in lieu of increasing pay or using bonuses to attract new drivers, have kept pay relatively stagnant in recent years. This has had a huge impact on their hiring efforts and put them in a position where they are taking on more work with a shrinking amount of drivers.
What does this mean for the drivers who remain? They are pushed harder than they’ve ever been pushed by employers. They may be encouraged to drive outside their legally allowed hours of service, denied appropriate rest breaks, and forced to drive longer than they feel safe doing. This type of mental strain makes it very hard to ignore the lure of distracted driving.
Intense Work Conditions
Truck driving is a much more intense job than many people realize. Drivers put in extra long hours, drive in almost complete isolation, subsist on restaurant food and gas station offerings, and often sleep in fairly uncomfortable setups. This puts a lot of strain on the body and mind, and when you are consistently uncomfortable and being pushed to your limits, your willpower goes down the drain. This means that when your phone dings and you’re curious about what your new notification says, it’s far harder to wait until you get to your next stop.
How Distracted Driving Can Lead to Collisions
It’s no secret that distracted driving leads to preventable traffic accidents. There’s even been research done on distracted truck driving and its effects on road safety, with one study indicating that 11,000 accidents over a three-year period involved distractions outside a truck’s cab.
When your hands are using your phone or otherwise in any location other than your steering wheel, it’s very hard to respond quickly to changes in traffic or unexpected obstacles in your path. This is multiplied when your eyes are off of the road, as they are when you are using your phone or using the in-cab screen to adjust your music. As it is, you only have a matter of seconds to respond to a danger in your path. When you’re distracted, that window shrinks further. Cognitive distractions can also have a negative impact on driving safety; when your mind is engaged, it’s very difficult to identify road risks, respond appropriately, and take appropriate action.
Start Your Truck Accident Claim with Reeves & Mestayer
If you or someone you love has been injured in a truck accident, it’s time to talk to the team at Reeves & Mestayer. We’re committed to helping victims like you secure fair and full compensation. Reach out online or call us at 1-855-558-2977 to set up a consultation right away.