Reckless Truck Drivers Make the Entire Industry More Dangerous

The trucking industry has long argued that the majority of crashes involving tractor-trailers were caused by the motoring public. Those claims will not be going away anytime soon after the results of a survey conducted by The Travelers Cos. was released.

The survey, which focused on motorists’ behavior in 2020, was released recently. Titled 2021 Travelers Risk Index, it consisted of 1,001 motorists who responded to questions in January of this year about their driving habits in 2020.

One-quarter of the survey respondents said that they thought the roads of the United States were safer once the Coronavirus pandemic hit the country in March 2020. The pandemic led to office buildings shutting down and the majority of Americans working and learning from home, decreasing the traffic volume nationwide.

Despite this misconception, more and more drivers made frightening decisions with how they operated their vehicles on open roads. This led to more severe crashes, some of which involved tractor-trailers.

Results of the survey show driver distraction is common

We all know how dangerous distracted driving is. We also know that spending long hours on the road can be grueling, both physically and mentally – but that is no excuse not to give all of your attention to driving. The survey showed a disturbing trend when it came to distracted truck drivers:

• Roughly 17 percent of the respondents admitted to shopping online using a mobile device while their vehicle was in motion. This question had a result of eight percent from the survey conducted prior to the pandemic.
• Close to 19 percent of respondents said that they took videos or pictures using their mobile devices while their vehicle was in motion. This same question had just a 10 percent response from prior to the pandemic.
• Approximately 26 percent of respondents said that they sent emails or text messages while operating their vehicles. This category was an increase from just 19 percent before the pandemic hit the United States.
• Approximately 20 percent of respondents admitted that they checked their social media accounts while driving, which was an increase from 13 percent in the year prior to the pandemic.

Chris Hayes, assistant vice president of workers compensation and transportation, risk control at Travelers told Freight Waves in an interview that trucking companies should heed the warnings the survey results are giving the motoring public. “Your hiring, management and coaching [of drivers] needs to be more locked down than ever before,” Hayes said.

What else does the survey show?

The bottom line is that respondents thought they could conduct risky behavior while driving during the pandemic because of fewer vehicles on the roads. Drivers were more likely to use their mobile devices because they had a false sense of security that the roads were safer. Hayes noted that this was a dangerous misconception.

Despite fewer miles traveled in 2020, the National Safety Council (NSC) reported that there was an increase in fatalities on United States roads in 2020 compared to 2019. The increase was eight percent. Hayes said that the increase was due to increased reckless behavior and higher speeds because of fewer vehicles on the roads.

What other dangers do truckers face?

The trucking industry is already dangerous for truck drivers of all experience levels. Dangers to truck drivers don’t just come from the truck driver (fatigue, impaired driving, distracted driving). Many dangers that truck drivers face come from outside sources, such as other drivers, the weather, road conditions, hazards, and many other items.

Tourism plays a role in trucking dangers

Tourism impacts the trucking industry, especially in the summer months when more drivers are traveling for vacation. Whether tourists are visiting Oklahoma City or leaving the city to explore what’s around them, tourists add to the traffic volume. The more volume, the more likely it is that a truck driver will be involved in an accident.

Inclement weather

The winter months in Oklahoma can be tricky. Heavy rain, ice, snow, sleet, and high winds can wreak havoc on a truck driver’s ability to haul goods from one destination to another. Winter weather, and inclement weather in general, pose major dangers for truck drivers. Fog can be especially dangerous for truck drivers because many members of the motoring public don’t know how to drive in foggy conditions.

A shortage of truck parking

Truck drivers all over the country have very little places to park and sleep when they need to meet the hours of service requirements. Few truck parking locations make the profession dangerous as truck drivers have to find safe places to park and sleep. One national retailer who welcomes truck drivers in their parking lots for sleep breaks is Wal-Mart.

High turnover rate

The trucking industry has a high turnover rate. The job has long hours, many of which are spent in solitude, causing drivers to consider other professions. Since the turnover rate is so high,  driver training is not exactly the best it can be at trucking companies across the country. Lack of experience is a big safety issue within the trucking industry.

Dangerous tasks

Truck drivers are also asked to perform dangerous tasks as part of their job duties. These can include installing tire chains on the side of the road for snow, putting a tarp over lumber being hauled, loading or unloading freight, and securing a trailer.

Dangerous delivery locations

Not all delivery locations are well-maintained, which increases the risk of injury and assault. A drop-off with broken lights, crumbling docks, or other hazards can make the job dangerous even when the truck is stopped. It also increases the risk of back-up accidents. Drop-offs in cities are especially dangerous to truck drivers as well as other driver, cyclists, and pedestrians.

Trucking is a dangerous industry; reckless truck drivers only make things worse. If you were hurt in a truck accident in Oklahoma City, Cunningham & Mears is ready to fight for your right to compensation. Call our office at (405) 232-1212, or complete a contact form to schedule free consultation with an experienced OKC truck accident lawyer today.