Posted by cuselleration on 2/1/2017 to
Learning to drive without distractions is extremely important, especially for truckers since you’re controlling something as large as a truck and will cause a lot more damage if anything was to go wrong. Also, journeys for truckers tend to be a lot longer, making the possibility of distractions to arise to increase due to boredom, hunger, fatigue, and so forth.
The NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) has categorized distracted driving into three groups namely cognitive, visual and manual.
Also, the FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration) simplifies the rules when it comes to mobile devices:
• No reaching
• No holding
• No dialing
• No texting
• No reading
You can take charge of ridding distractions to focus on the road ahead by equipping yourself with the following tips for preventing distracted driving. It is your responsibility to do so.
Prepare for Your Trip
As a universal rule, if you can't give full attention to driving because of any activity, it's a diversion. Make sure you know where you’re going, the last thing you want to happen is to get confused on the road because you’re lost, resulting in distracted driving. Enter any location into the GPS before the trip, and in the case you get lost, stop the vehicle and look for directions then. Never divert your eyes from the road, no matter how important it seems. Remember you are operating a giant metal vehicle that is going around 60 miles per hour.
Make any necessary adjustments before the trip, like adjusting the mirrors and air conditioning. Look at traffic conditions beforehand to know what best route to take.
Take A Break if You Feel Necessary
Your and everyone else’s safety is more important than any deadline. If you begin to feel tired, don’t try to power through the trip. Stop and rest if you feel you need to.
Avoid Electronics
Avoid texting, making or receiving calls whether you are using a handheld or hands-free except during emergencies or you risk hefty fines from FMCSA. Statistics indicate that a tenth of all drivers are distracted by cell phones at any given moment and drivers who text are more likely to cause accidents than their counterparts who are legally drunk. Apart from using mobile electronic devices, also avoid electronic distractions mounted on the vehicle while driving.
To prevent temptation, switch off or store mobile devices before heading out. Besides, drivers should be extremely cautious when using voice-activated systems to stay safe.
Secure Passengers
Before setting off ensure that you guard passengers and pets. Avoid stretching into the backseat since you risk losing control of the car.
Avoid Eating and Drinking
If possible, eat and drink before or after the trip, not during the journey since it requires you to take a hand off the wheel. If you must eat then ensure that you avoid foods that are much difficult to handle or leave time to pull over and eat.