Some of the most common factors that lead to accidents are speed and space management issues. This includes roadway misbehaviors like speeding, tailgating and distracted driving. Fleet owners should focus their driver training sessions around avoiding – and responding to – these common issues to help reduce costly and dangerous highway incidents.
For many drivers, the first step at eliminating risky driving behaviors like speeding is simply becoming more aware of their actions behind the wheel.
“Driving becomes second nature to a lot of us,” said Anthony Slamar, Transportation Specialist at Northland Insurance. “We get in the vehicle, turn on the ignition and drive. But there are a lot of different vehicles in front of us and behind us out there on the road.”
People within the transportation industry often talk about the “six second rule,” which refers to the following distance needed for a driver to stop in case of a traffic hazard ahead. Some drivers, however, are not aware of how long it takes large trucks to come to a stop. This lack of awareness can lead to unsafe situations for everyone involved.
At highway speeds there may be very little time to avoid a serious accident if motorists – including both truck drivers and passenger vehicle drivers – are engaging in behaviors like following too closely. Additionally, that six-second following distance can be significantly affected by various driving behaviors and roadway conditions that make it more difficult for a truck to come to a quick and complete stop.
“Distracted driving really affects your speed and space management,” Slamar said.
If a truck driver is distracted, their response time can be delayed, leading to increased accident risk. This can present a serious threat to the driver, fleet owners and motoring public. With the abundance of distractions available today – and the significant impact of distracted driving – fleet owners are putting resources into addressing distracted driving.
Good training is the foundation of a healthy fleet, and fleet owners that roll out more robust programs are seeing positive effects. Truck drivers recognize that they need to focus on what they can control, their own safe driving practices, to help counter the lack of safe driving of others on the roadway.
“We want to communicate to our drivers that it is important to take responsibility for what you can control, such as your own speed and space management,” Slamar said.
While it is impossible to prevent all motorist-caused accidents, collisions can be significantly reduced when truck drivers remain attentive to their surroundings and have full control of their own driving behaviors.
Beyond avoiding accidents, truck drivers who work to keep their speed in check can also minimize costly and time-consuming traffic stops. These stops have the potential to escalate into more complex issues for drivers and fleet owners alike.
“If you get pulled over for speeding, it could open up the door for a detailed inspection, which could be an out of service violation,” Slamar said. “That is why we always want to emphasize doing the right thing with drivers, including diligently following the speed limit, and performing thorough pre-trip inspections, vehicle maintenance and making sure we are following hours of service rules.”
In addition to focusing on good driving behaviors, fleet owners should reiterate the importance of following safety guidelines related to inspections and maintenance with their drivers on a regular basis. While this type of communication is especially important for new drivers, it is also crucial for fleet owners to remind veteran drivers about taking these steps to help prevent unnecessary citations, fines and delays.
The right insurance partner can help a fleet owner develop a training program that encompasses the many issues drivers face. Northland, for example, helps fleets meet their training and risk management needs with training materials, resources and other recommendations.
Safer roadways are a win-win-win situation. Truck drivers and other motorists may be less likely to be involved in expensive and dangerous accidents. Fleet owners can gain access to higher customer service ratings and better insurance rates, and insurance providers are often able to offer better coverage with less risk.
Click here to learn more about Northland’s risk control offerings.