A career as a truck driver is rewarding, adventerous, and profitable. But truck driving can also be dangerous. Whenever you get behind the wheel of any vehicle, you risk causing an accident. The risk is greater when your vehicle weighs 40 tons.
Forbes ranked a career in truck driving number 9 in their 2013 list of “America’s 10 Deadliest Jobs.” The reason is the high fatality rate of almost 26 for every 100,000 drivers. It is all the more tragic when you consider that most accidents can be avoided with good driving habits.
If you are a truck driver for Bay & Bay in Minneapolis, MN, it pays to be a safe driver. Here are 7 safety tips to help you become a safe driver:
- Get plenty of sleep. If you’re drowsy, pull over and take a nap. It’s not worth the risk of driving when you’re sleepy.
- Know the side effects of your prescription medications, if you currently take any. Many medications cause drowsiness and dizziness.
- Don’t speed. This should be obvious, but the fact is most drivers exceed posted speed limits. The chances of causing an accident almost triples when you speed.
- Keep a safe distance behind other vehicles. When you’re hauling thousands of pounds worth of freight, you need extra time to come to a stop. This tip goes hand in hand with not speeding.
- Make sure to observe speed and lane restrictions within work and school zones. These areas are often congested with traffic, workers, and children.
- Check your blind spots. Adjust your mirrors before you travel to maximize your field of vision. Repair your mirrors when they are damaged, and invest in side mirrors if you need them.
- Check your brakes regularly. If your brakes aren’t functioning properly, you need to know as soon as possible so you can have them fixed. You don’t want to find out your brakes are bad when you need to come to a sudden stop.
Following these safety guidelines does not guarantee that you won’t have an accident, but it is an excellent way to avoid most of them. If you are beginning a career as a truck driver for Bay & Bay Transportation in Minneapolis, MN, work now on becoming a safe driver by practicing these and other safety tips. The sooner you practice safety, the sooner safe driving will become second nature for you and the less likely you are to cause careless accidents.
If you’re interested in starting a career as a truck driver and live in the Minneapolis, MN area, contact Bay & Bay Transportation today!