(Newswire.net — January 16, 2019) — There are many dangers in the truck driving profession. There are several risks that truck drivers are exposed to on a daily basis. Over the last 5 years, the number of truck driver fatalities have reached the highest levels in history. When you consider the dangers of this profession, you can see why there are so many openings in the industry. Many potential truck drivers should be aware of just how serious these job factors are.
High Number of Fatalities
There are many fatalities in the truck driving profession. Based on research done by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), it was concluded that driving is the deadliest profession. Over the course of a year, there were 2,083 deaths that associated with a driving profession. 918 of these deaths were employees of driving companies. Fatalities from motor vehicle crashes added up to be 1,252 people. The rest of the deaths included weather or road conditions. The fatality rate per year is slowly increasing, and there are limited ideas on how to prevent it. This makes truck driving one of the most dangerous jobs in the world.
Unsafe Loading or Unloading Locations
Location is a big part of a truck driver’s job. However, not every location is necessarily safe. When going to the loading or unloading sites, truck drivers commonly get injured by equipment. There is a lot going on at these sites. If the driver isn’t paying attention, it is easy for them to fall off the truck and injure themselves. There are also several occasions when truck drivers have been injured or attacked because of a delivery to a dangerous area. Even truck stop has its own risks. While the drivers are walking to or from their trucks, it is easy to walk into the blind spot of another driver and get injured. Truck drivers need to be careful when they are going to these different onloading or offloading locations.
Driving Mistakes Lead to Injury or Death
Many trucker injuries or fatalities happen on the road. There is a lot of responsibility and a lot of training when it comes to driving a truck. However, many trucking companies will not take the time to fully train new employees. Because of its significant weight and size, the reaction time of the truck driver is a lot slower. If even the driver does make a small mistake, it could lead to a crash as well as a truck accident lawsuit. Jackknifing is a common occurrence in these situations. If the driver loses control of the trailer, it will take control and force the towing vehicle to start spinning. Once the driver loses this control, they are unable to prevent injury or collision.
Lack of Technology Advancement
There is a lack of modern technology used on these trucks. Many trucking companies refuse to spend money on specific safety features, deeming them unnecessary outside of truck insurance coverage. However, the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety did a study, concluding that this “unnecessary” technology could actually save lives. To improve the truck’s braking system, air disc brakes or an automatic braking system could be installed. This could prevent over 5,000 crashes per year and up to 55 deaths. Another feature that could help drivers with their blind spots is a lane departure system. With this installed, up to 115 lives could be saved. Video-based safety monitoring systems could prevent 63,000 crashes per year, saving 293 lives. Without this technology, drivers are expected to do a quick walk-around check of their vehicles, leaving their safety to possible human error.
Risks of Having Sleep Deprivation
One of the most dangerous aspects of the trucker’s lifestyle is sleep deprivation. The lifestyle of a truck driver is hard to manage. Not only can it be extremely unhealthy physically, but it can also negatively affect mental health. Drivers hardly get enough sleep during their breaks, and they are often driving tired. While truck driving is already a stressful job, this sleep deprivation puts even more stress on the body. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), almost 100,000 accidents and 1,550 deaths occur on the road due to sleep deprivation. Because drivers are scheduled such long hours and extensive trips, they have to avoid drowsy driving.
Truck driving is a seriously dangerous profession. There are many dangers of the job. Firstly, the number of fatalities is very high. Next, the major factors, including off-loading locations, driving mistakes and sleep patterns need to be handled very carefully. Moreover, trucking companies need to continuously upgrade the trucking technology to keep drivers safer. Undoubtedly, there are many dangers related to the job, making it one of the most dangerous professions in the world.