Practical Trailer Driving Tips to Prevent an Accident

The safety of drivers on the road is essential for their health and well-being while considering other motorists on the road. Driving a truck with a large, heavy trailer makes it that much more complicated for the drivers, and accident prevention habits need to be in place. Over the years, the number of fleet accidents with severe injuries and fatalities has increased in transportation and logistics, particularly in the trucking industry.

Apart from having a good insurance plan, having a good trailer accident lawyer on your side will help you go through the claiming process and complicated legal issues. Here are a few tips and habits to help improve your driving skills and the overall safety of your fleet.

Watch Your Blind Spots

Any area in the vicinity of the vehicle that is not in plain sight for the driver is a blind spot. As a truck driver with a large trailer behind and being so high off the surface, seeing lighter vehicles can be a bit of a challenge. As a result of blind spots, many accidents occur when truck drivers are changing lanes.

A recommendation to mitigate blind-spot-related accidents is to constantly look over your shoulders and outside your window, especially when changing lanes. Also, practice leaving ample space between your truck and other motorists.

Practice Defensive Driving

Being situational aware at all times can help see and prevent possible hazards and road conditions. All drivers should adopt defensive driving to help reduce the risk of unforeseen dangers, accidents, and injuries on the roads. With defensive driving practices, you can avoid accidents, avoid extended insurance claiming processes, and costly repairs.

Looking ahead and scanning intersections before driving in, keeping a safe distance with vehicles in front and around you; these are only a few defensive driving techniques all drivers can use to stay safe on the road.

Practice the Three-Second Rule

The three-second rule is the best practice for truck drivers to help avoid forward and rear collisions. The three-second rule states that, where the car in front of you reaches a particular mark on the road, it should take you no less than three seconds to get to the same spot as a truck driver. The following time must be increased by at least five seconds to accommodate any adverse weather conditions such as heavy rains and wind; and a ten-second adjustment for icy roads.

Conduct Pre-Trip and Post-Trip Inspections

Conducting a pre-trip and post-trip inspection is essential for all truck drivers, as this is a safety check to better protect you as a driver and others you'll meet on the road. As part of a safety maintenance check, doing pre-trip and post-trip checks help you identify issues that need to be looked at before your next trip without putting them in harm's way and saving on repair costs down the line.

To help all involved, including management, get real-time information on these inspections and repairs needed, there are advanced mobile applications that drivers should use and submit when doing checks.