Truck Drivers Encounter New Distractions

Commercial drivers spend hours driving on highways, rural roads, and everything in between. This makes their job a dangerous one; one that requires patience, focus, and an ability to deal with boredom. Unfortunately, statistics prove that many truck drivers are encountering new distractions despite using hands-free devices. These distractions are leading to unsafe roads, injuries, and fatalities.

Lytx, a company that compiles data through video telematics, found that drivers who use hands-free devices tend to participate in other distracting activities while driving, which include eating, smoking, or adjusting the radio. Nearly a quarter of Lytx’s scored events involve drivers participating in multiple distracting activities at once. Despite an increase in hands-free devices, the company still found a 13 percent increase in cell phone-related risky driving in 2018. Ultimately, statistics prove that distracted driving leads to a loss of focus.

Dangers of Hands-Free Device Use

A client intelligence analyst at Lytx notes that hands-free devices tend to lead drivers to participate in other distracting behaviors. Since the driver’s hands are free from holding a cell phone, they can eat while driving or adjust radio settings. Hands-free devices may remove manual distractions, however, talking on the phone is considered a cognitive distraction. Therefore, a driver may experience higher risks of an accident when they combine the cognitive distraction of a phone call with other manual distractions.

Dangers of Commercial Driver Negligence

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a truck-related injury or fatality occurs every 16 minutes in the United States. Accidents are bound to happen but engaging in distracting activities raises the risk of a collision. Incidents involving distracted driving have garnered the attention from safety groups around the country. Discussing the dangers of inattentive driving is important, especially for commercial drivers, because distracted driving is the second leading cause of truck-related fatalities, specifically in commercial fleets. It is also important for drivers to focus on distracted driving solutions.

How to Avoid Distracted Driving

According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), nearly three quarters of truck accidents involve distractions. Therefore, drivers should develop safe driving habits to avoid common distractions.

Common ways to prevent distracted driving include:

• Avoid rubbernecking, reading billboards, or focusing on pedestrians
• Avoid using a cell phone by turning off notifications
• Avoid paper maps
• Eat your food before driving

Cherry Hill Truck Accident Lawyers at DiTomaso Law Help Victims Injured in All Types of Truck Accidents

If you or someone you know was the victim of a truck accident, please consider contacting the services of a Cherry Hill truck accident lawyer at DiTomaso Law. Our lawyers specialize in obtaining maximum compensation for those suffering from injuries caused by commercial driver negligence. Contact us online or call us at 856-414-0010 for a free consultation. Located in Philadelphia and Cherry Hill, New Jersey, we proudly serve clients throughout southeastern Pennsylvania and South Jersey, including Cherry Hill, Mt. Holly, and Camden County.