What Does Distracted Driving Look Like?

Distracted driving can look so different depending on the situation. There are times that drivers may not even realize they are putting themselves and other people on the road in danger. Distracted driving can be as little as looking at the temperature control. Other driving distractions include someone or something happening outside the vehicle, passengers, eating, drinking, smoking or a mobile device.

It is a known fact that truck drivers can spend countless hours in their trucks. With long days and nights on the road, there is no doubt being stuck in the truck can get boring. When boredom sets in it is easy to get distracted. Distracted driving is extremely dangerous and, in most cases, avoidable.

What is the Risk of Distracted Driving?

There are obvious risks when it comes to distracted driving. You are putting yourself and everyone else on the road in danger. This is especially apparent when you are one of the largest machines, if not the largest machine, on the road. This paired with heavy loads and busy roads can be fatal. The worse-case scenario of distracted driving can be fatal. If not fatal, distracted driving can cause damage to your truck, other vehicles, bodily harm or downtime and loss of income.

In the United States, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, truck drivers who text and drive are 23 times more likely to be involved in a serious incident while drivers who talk on a handheld device are 6 times more likely to be involved in a serious incident.

How can Distracted Driving be Prevented?

Being prepared can go a long way in preventing distracted driving while on the road. Before you hit the road think ahead. Get comfortable in your seat, have something to eat and put your cell phone away. While you are driving, keep your mind focused on the road so that if something comes up you can react as quickly as possible. If you do need to make a call or send a message, pull over in a safe area and use your mobile device.

Testing in a Safe Environment

If you had a chance to see how well you can handle distracted driving would you? How well do you think you would do? Most truck drivers believe they are able to handle being distracted while driving. Our friends over at Bison Transport, put that to the test and ended up with an interesting simulated video. The skilled truck drivers were surprised with the results. Take a look at the video here.