After a truck crash, our job is to investigate and do a root cause analysis as to what would have prevented the crash.
We all share the road with commercial trucks, 18 wheelers, straight trucks, and other heavy equipment.
Almost in every instance, truck crashes are preventable. Truck drivers, here is our bullet point list of what you can do to make yourself and others you share the road with safe.
- A thorough pre-trip inspection. Never attempt a trip with faulty equipment.
- Never exceed the speed limit is obvious, but you should not go slower than the average speed of traffic.
- Always keep a lookout 12 to 15 seconds ahead of you and constantly check your mirrors for issues behind you.
- Never pull out into traffic where it would require other vehicles to see and avoid you.
- Don’t pull out halfway across a divided Highway, wait until you can clear both sides.
- Never try to flag down drivers- learn the proper triangle placement and do it as soon as possible.
- Slow down when you encounter rain, snow, and don’t drive in Fog.
- Know your route, plan your stops, know ahead where it is safe to pull over.
- Never overcorrect if your wheels leave the road on the shoulder. Better to ditch than to flip into oncoming traffic.
- Check your service hours – using this simple chart.
- Here is a link for the commercial truck drivers manual here in Mississippi.
- Here is the link for the preventable accident manual.
Ask your employer for the federal motor vehicle safety regulations in an easier-to-understand format.
Help us help you prevent the next crash!
