Trucking accidents can be life-altering for the victims, with most victims typically being in the second vehicle rather than the truck itself. Fleet managers have a responsibility to ensure their teams are as safe on the roads as possible. Thankfully, there are plenty of strategies and procedures that can be put in place to reduce the chance of accidents.
Regular vehicle maintenance & training
According to PolicyAdvice, the most common causes of truck accidents are mechanical faults, with tires and brake issues being at the top of the list. With this in mind, one of the easiest ways to reduce the chance of an accident is regular, compulsory maintenance of every vehicle in the fleet. Maintenance should be the responsibility of the whole business, from the operators to the drivers.
As well as regular maintenance, drivers should check the whole vehicle prior to each departure to make sure everything is in good form. Maintenance training should also be included in a driver’s initial induction, as well as in yearly top-up training. That way, if something does go wrong on the road, they’ll at least know what to do in the moment.
Time Management and Scheduling
Another cause of trucking accidents is the truck’s stopping distance and speed. These larger vehicles require more stopping time than cars or even smaller trucks. Distracted or tired drivers who have been on the road for hours at a time can quickly lose sight of their speed and how much time they would need to stop in an emergency.
To avoid tiredness resulting in accidents, managers and drivers should work together to create a proper schedule where drivers have plenty of rest between journeys, as well as during longer journeys. Well-rested drivers have less risk of feeling drowsy – or falling asleep – at the wheel.
Trucking accident lawyers often encourage the use of anti-drowsiness technology that can detect fatigue in a driver’s face and emit alerts to keep them awake long enough to pull over for some rest to ensure the safety of other road users, especially cyclists.
Driver Facing Cameras
Truck accident specialists like Schwartzapfel Lawyers can provide a better case when there is no argument over whether the driver was tired or distracted. Driver-facing cameras are a great way to keep tabs on whether drivers are eating, drinking, or using their phones at the wheel. Not only do the cameras work as a reminder to drivers no to get distracted, but it also helps managers monitor how their drivers are behaving on the job.
Fleet Management Speed Monitoring
Fleet companies can benefit from digital management systems that help managers to keep track of how fast every truck is going. The technology is connected to the engine of each vehicle, and a maximum speed can be set. If drivers go over the limit, the system will report the incident on a dashboard that can be accessed by those in the office.
This type of software helps to identify drivers who are continuously offending so that disciplinary action and additional training can be done.
The safety of the fleet and other drivers on the road is everyone’s responsibility. Make sure to implement proper training and software to reduce the risk of accidents as soon as possible.
