Do Truckers Often Get Distracted When Driving?
It’s safe to say we’ve become addicted to our cell phones. Americans spend an average of 5.4 hours per day on their phones. That is according to the results of a study published by the University of Rochester. If you add up all the calls you make each day to friends and family, it might be an hour.
The rest of that time is spent texting, sending/reading emails, or checking out websites.
There is nothing wrong with it if you’re sitting at home. Do truckers often get distracted when driving? Like other motorists, truckers are susceptible to the same kinds of distractions. Cell phone usage can turn deadly in the blink of an eye if you’re behind the wheel of a semi-truck weighing 80,000 pounds.
Unfortunately, cell phone usage is not the only distraction that a truck driver can engage in. When those distractions lead to a significant truck accident, you could establish liability, which will make being awarded compensation for losses much easier to accomplish.
Common Truck Driver Distractions
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) data reveals that in 2022 (the last time they collected data), 3,308 people were killed, and another 289,310 were injured in accidents attributed to distracted driving.
In addition to all the possible ways a truck driver can take their eyes off the road by using a cell phone, here are some more common distractions:
Eating or Drinking
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration sets regulations for truck driver service hours. That includes the requirement to take a 30-minute break for every eight hours of driving. That should be enough time to pull over and grab a bite to eat. What truckers shouldn’t do is get that food to go.
Unwrapping food, adding condiments, dealing with spills, or reaching for a drink are all ways that truck drivers can not only take their eyes off the road but also their hands off the wheel. Either one of those situations can impede their response time.
Computers and Internet
In addition to cell phones, truckers often travel with laptops or tablets. Those devices can be used to log time and trip manifests. That can mean mounting the devices on a table or standing next to the driver for easy access. Those active screens can be a tempting distraction for drivers who might want to browse websites that do nothing to do with their jobs.
Reaching for Something
No matter who is behind the wheel, constant adjustments are made for environmental controls, GPS, and the radio. Sometimes, a driver could reach for something that has fallen or check for something in the glove box.
Grooming
Truckers are under a lot of pressure to make their pick-ups and deliveries on time or early. As such, they are always looking for ways to save time. That could mean using an electric razor, combing hair, or even brushing their teeth while driving. Those are all activities that take hands off the wheel.
How Distractions Trigger Accidents
When a driver is distracted, their response time is impacted. That is more of a problem than for truck drivers for the following reasons:
Truck Size and Weight
The average fully loaded commercial truck is twenty times heavier than the average car on the road. The weight of those trucks increases the force of impact when they get into an accident. Also, the cargo in the truck is at risk of spilling, which can cause further hazards on the road.
Longer Stopping Distance
Because of a truck’s size, the driver needs a much longer distance to come to a complete stop. That stopping time includes reacting to a situation and then implementing the course of action. Most cars need the equivalent of the length of a football field to come to a complete stop at 60 mph. A truck needs double that amount.
Increased Risk of Multi-Vehicle Accidents
When a big rig gets into a crash because of a driver distraction, it often involves multiple vehicles.
A truck that slams into one car can push that car into another, setting off a chain reaction of wrecks with devastating consequences.
Proving Liability
Every driver thinks they are immune from distractions causing accidents. Sadly, it only takes a literal moment to cause an accident from a distraction.
If you’re the victim of a truck accident, you’ll want reasonable compensation for all your losses and damages.
If the Thomas Law Offices take up your case, we’ll explore all the contributing factors to assign liability, including investigating any instance of distracted driving. We can provide you with the answers you need to make the right decision about pursuing your claim.
