88% of Trucking Accidents Are Preventable
A trucker driver safety policy and procedure manual we received from a recent case states that 88% of all trucking traffic accidents are preventable. Under their manual, preventable accident is defined as “Any accident involving the vehicle, unless it is properly parked, which results in property damage or personal injury and in which the driver failed to do everything he/she reasonably could have done to prevent or avoid the accident.” According to the National Safety Council Rules, a preventable accident is one, “In which the driver failed to exercise every reasonable precaution to prevent the accident.” It can be gathered that the majority of accidents that occur, and almost all preventable accidents that occur are due to the negligence of a driver and very often the semi-truck.
When a semi-truck driver is negligent, the ramifications can be devastating, if not fatal.There are at least ten different types of accidents that truck drivers can prevent before getting behind the wheel and while they are on the road. Some accidents are more preventable than others, but with the correct precautions taken, these travesties can be avoided.
First, we have truck accidents involving backing up. The sheer size of the truck makes it difficult to maneuver while in reverse. But, backing up is dangerous only if the driver disregards to ensure the way is clear during the total movement. It is the driver’ s responsibility, even if there is a spotter, to back the truck completely and safely. Another type of avoidable accident is intersection accidents. Stop lights, stop signs, or right-of-way may guide drivers at intersections, but only the driver can guarantee safe crossing. Collisions with violators, funeral processions, and fire, police, or ambulance vehicles are completely up to the drivers to avoid.
Pedestrian/truck accidents are also avoidable accidents on the road. A pedestrian’ s right-of-way or jay-walking is irrelevant in analyzing a fatal or traumatic incident. The only reason a pedestrian/truck accident could be deemed unavoidable is if the investigation fails to discover anything the driver could have done to prevent the accident.
One more type of preventable truck accident is the rear-end collision accidents. Rear-end accidents are obviously when one vehicle does not stop in time and strikes the rear of another vehicle. A ticket for failure to stop is often issued and can cost the negligent driver over $100. However, the fine and ticket are minimal given the severity of the potential injury to the occupants of the vehicle that was hit. Most rear-end collisions can be avoided by keeping sufficient distance between the driver and the car ahead. Also, driving the speed that is appropriate for the conditions may avert a crash as well.
Traffic lane encroachment accidents also can be prevented if the proper precautions are taken. These types of accidents are a result from passing, weaving, squeeze plays, shut-outs or entering a line of moving traffic. Being aware of ones surroundings can dodge these often fatal accidents.
The sixth type of preventable accident results from mechanical conditions of the semi-truck. A driver is responsible by law to perform a pre-trip inspection of the mechanics of the vehicle before getting behind the wheel. A PTI, pre-trip inspection, is defined as the ability to do a thorough safety inspection on a commercial vehicle before heading out onto the highway. Unfortunately, the pre-trip inspection requirement is the most violated mandatory safety rule by the trucking industry today. This simple fifteen minute check can prevent devastating accidents.
Another preventable type of accident are accidents with ‘ fixed rail’ vehicles. A fixed rail vehicle is a means of transportation with, as the name implies, a fixed rail it follows to travel. These vehicles include trains and streetcars. Due to the fixed tracks they run on, they cannot dodge or maneuver in regards to other vehicles. Also, trains and streetcars need great braking distance in comparison to rubber-tired vehicles on the road. Therefore, trucks, cars, motorcycles, etc. are responsible for avoiding these fixed rail vehicles.
A preventable accident that may often be over looked are collisions with stationary objects, non-collision accidents, unattended vehicle accidents, and miscellaneous accidents. Often times these collisions with trees, signs, buildings, bridges, parked vehicles, etc. occur because the driver takes emergency action to avoid another accident. However, investigating these types of accidents often reveals that the driver was not driving defensively prior to that instant. Both accidents can be avoided if the operator of the vehicle would not have placed themselves in a position where emergency action was necessary.
Some may not consider accidents blamed on adverse weather conditions preventable, but with the proper precautions taken these accidents are more likely to be averted. Snow, rain, fog and other climate issues do not cause motor accidents, but extend the hazards to driving. Accidents that are blamed on these conditions can be prevented by reducing speed or stopping entirely if conditions are extremely dangerous and one cannot continue safely.
Lastly, parking accidents are completely preventable if the driver takes the means to do so. A parking incident can be caused by unconventional parking, double parking, failure to put out warning devices, etc. A vehicle driver that follows parking rules and that only parks in spots dedicated to that vehicle parking there will avoid virtually all parking incidents.
Truck drivers can avoid a high number of accidents by taking the necessary precautions to avoid the types of accidents listed above. A professional driver does not depend on their skill to get themselves out of tight spots; instead, they depend on their judgement to avoid tight spot.
