Truck Driver Safety Tips: Stay Safe on the Road This Memorial Day

Memorial Day is just around the corner. As the weather heats up, we welcome back the unofficial kick-off to summer. As Memorial Day is a federal holiday with time off, millions of Americans will be traveling to their weekend destinations by car, truck or SUV. With so many drivers on the road, Memorial Day is known to be a very traffic-heavy holiday weekend. Before traffic amps up, it’s important truck drivers are aware of tips to stay calm, cool, collected and safe while on the road during one of the busiest travel days of the year.

How do professional truck drivers prioritize safety while on the road for Memorial Day?

#1. Eliminate Distractions

Distracted driving includes any activity or action that takes your eyes off the road while operating a moving vehicle. This includes answering the phone or making a call, reading or sending text messages, sending emails, eating or drinking and surfing the internet while behind the wheel. Distracted drivers are more likely to run stop signs, fail to yield or stop at an intersection and have a near collision. When you are behind the wheel of a semi-truck, it is crucial that you avoid making careless mistakes that could cause an accident and harm you or others on the road.

#2. Avoid Frequent Lane Changes

Driving a semi-truck requires a lot of skill and precision. When operating such a large truck, there’s always the potential for serious crashes during a lane change. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) nearly 35,000 people are injured per year in the United States from unsafe lane changing. You can reduce having to make unnecessary lane changes by knowing your route and planning. Give yourself plenty of time to make lane changes, and only make lane changes if it follows the flow of your route.

#3. Check Your Blind Spots Often

When operating a semi-truck, you must take extra measures to check your blind spots. This is even more important than if you were driving a compact sedan or SUV. Due to the size of a semi-truck’s hood, you have multiple blind spots. According to Truckers Report, there is a “20-foot blind spot at the front of your vehicle. Behind your trailer, there’s a 30-foot blind spot, where mirrors can’t reach.” In addition, you have blind spots on either side under the cab mirrors.

#4. Maintain a Safe Following Distance

Per the Department of Transportation, due to their large size, semi-trucks “require more vigilance when braking. Instead of being able to tap their brakes and immediately halt, truck drivers need about 600 feet to come to a complete stop––twice the distance the average car needs.” This total stopping distance includes the perception, reaction and braking distance. For most drivers, it takes anywhere between “half a second and a full second to react to their surroundings.” When you factor in heavy traffic during a weekend like Memorial Day weekend, this reaction time is even more crucial for drivers.

#5. Perform Regular Preventative Maintenance

Driver safety starts before you leave the yard. Keep yourself and other drivers on the road safe by ensuring your truck receives proper maintenance on a routine basis. Preventative maintenance is one of the most important parts of successful fleet management. When equipment isn’t working in optimal condition, it presents many risks, puts drivers in danger and can lead to legal repercussions. At PTP Transport, our vehicles are regularly checked and maintained by our partner, Penske. We have safety protocols, such as weekly driver-focused and driver safety incentives in place to help our drivers practice driver safety while in the yard and on the road.

Truck performance is a crucial part of preventing crashes on the road.

If you’re going to be on the road for Memorial Day weekend, remember to stay vigilant, allow yourself extra time to get to your destination and be aware of your surroundings.

For more information about driver safety, or to apply to drive for PTP visit our website.