How Can Truck Drivers Improve Safety on the Road?

There are an estimated 13.5 million commercial trucks registered in the United States with an estimated 400,000 to 500,000 large truck accidents each year. When you examine this data, you realize how important driver safety is for trucking companies and many businesses, fleet drivers, and owner operators want to know — how can truck drivers improve safety on the road?

4 Tips to Improve Truck Driver Safety

Are you looking for ways to improve driver safety for your freight company? Are you an owner-operator that just wants to be safer on the road? There are many things you can do to improve your safety — from driving defensively to investing in protective equipment like grille guards. 

Here is a better look at a few tips that can improve safety on the road for semi truck drivers:

1. Use Defensive Driving Tactics

Defensive driving is a more proactive approach to driving where drivers try to anticipate potential hazards on the road ahead and take early action that can help avoid disaster. This is even more important when behind the wheel of a heavy commercial truck that takes longer to stop or turn. Here are a few defensive driving tips:

• Maintain safe following distances to allow yourself more time to stop.
• Use turn signals at all times to alert the drivers around you of intended actions.
• Always be aware of your surroundings and blind spots.
• Avoid aggressive driving that can include fast lane changes, speeding, and following too close.

2. Stay Alert and Focused on the Road

Long hours on the road and in traffic can cause commercial drivers to lose focus, get distracted, or get tired — and that can cause an accident. To be alert and stay focused on the road, it is important for semi truck drivers to get enough rest and pay attention to hours of service, avoid distractions while driving like food or phones, and always be aware of changing weather and road conditions. 

3. Keep Up with Vehicle Maintenance

Vehicle maintenance is another way you can improve driver safety on the roads. Mechanical issues while driving can lead to accidents and can be avoided with regular vehicle maintenance. Pre- and post-trip inspections of key parts like tires, brakes, lights, and more can help you avoid any potential failures of the aforementioned parts and systems by identifying issues early. It is also important to address mechanical issues right away before small issues become major failures that lead to accidents on the road. 

4. Invest in Protective Equipment

Added protection for drivers and fleet vehicles is a great way to improve safety on the road. Semi truck grille guards provide added protection for drivers and trucks by reducing the impact on the truck in the event of an animal strike or vehicle collision. Aftermarket Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems (ADAS) are another asset available to fleets that can be employed to protect personnel and equipment. In addition to those pieces of protective equipment — drivers and fleets can keep personal protective equipment in trucks to keep everyone safe in the event of a collision or breakdown.

READ MORE: What Are the Biggest Safety Risks for Truck Drivers?

Are you interested in how truck drivers can improve safety on the road? We hope that this list of safety tips has provided you with some fresh ideas to improve driver safety and avoid tragic accidents. Contact RIGGUARD today to learn more about our semi truck grille guards manufactured in Neenah, WI!