As you share the road with truckers, you may begin to realize that some drivers may struggle with distractions or other issues that put you in danger.
Learning about the negative influences that can lead to an accident on a highway or a back road can help you know what to do next.
Lack of sleep
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, one reason that many truck drivers become distracted or unable to safely navigate roads is because of a lack of quality sleep. If they do not keep their eyes open, then those few seconds of hesitation or confusion can lead to them swerving or crashing into another vehicle.
Pulling off the road to rest is the best way to combat this safety hazard. Fatigue can slow your reaction time, which means other people on the road are more at risk. A large vehicle like a truck cannot stop as quickly as a smaller car, so truckers may crash into the back of your car without warning.
Confusion over directions
Trying to search for directions on a cell phone or on another device can take a trucker’s eyes and concentration off of the surrounding traffic. Truck drivers who try to search for directions while already in the middle of a route can struggle to operate a truck in a safe way.
Medicine usage
Driving while under the influence of a prescription drug can sometimes impact the driver’s reactions to people on the road.
In some cases, the medication a trucker takes may not mix well with another food or drink, which can cause sluggishness and sleepiness. These delayed reactions can cause a truck to skid off the road or crash into a car.
