Multitasking on the road can lead to fatal consequences. According to the CDC, about 3,000 people die yearly from distracted driving. When a trucker becomes distracted behind the wheel, the danger increases.
Trucks cannot stop quickly and in the event of an accident, passenger vehicle occupants tend to suffer more catastrophic consequences.
Electronic devices
Electronic devices are the cause of many distracted driving accidents. Texting and driving are one of the worst culprits. When a trucker texts and drives, he or she cannot react to obstacles in the roadway. On top of being unable to respond quickly, truckers already have difficulty stopping quickly. For instance, say that another vehicle brakes rapidly; if a trucker does not watch the road, he or she could cause an accident.
It is the same as driving with your eyes closed when you have your eyes on a text. Other electronic devices include navigation systems. Fiddling with the navigation system can have the same consequences as texting and driving.
Cognitive distractions
Cognitive distractions refer to anything that takes a driver’s mind off the road. Various acts can cause mental distractions. For example, if someone fights driving, his or her mind may not be on the road ahead. Other distractions include talking with a passenger or on the phone or radio. Since truckers spend a lot of time on the road, they often become comfortable with their driving and may not recognize that they do not have their full attention on other vehicles.
Truckers also have specific guidelines to follow to help prevent drowsy driving. The sheer size of a big rig makes them more dangerous than other vehicles on the road.