Safety is a big concern to everyone on the road, and for commercial drivers most of all. According to the National Safety Council, nearly 6,000 professional drivers were involved in fatal crashes in 2022, a 1.8% increase from the year before. Even more alarming, in the last 10 years, fatal crashes among commercial drivers have surged nearly 50%.
With road risk on the rise, commercial drivers need more protection. To improve driver safety, we’ve assembled a list of safety tips to discuss with your drivers. These commercial driving safety tips will help increase fleet driver safety, improve fleet risk management, and reduce the risk of collisions on the road.
1. Look ahead down the road
Driving requires a level of awareness that goes beyond natural human instinct. Our eyes aren’t optimized for the rapid decision-making required on the road. To stay safe, drivers should look ahead to where they’ll be in at least 15 seconds.
Practicing extended eye-lead time gives drivers advanced warning of potential hazards, so they can make safer decisions in critical moments. When drivers scan further ahead, it opens up a window of time for them to respond to potential dangers. Looking down the road also puts drivers in the mindset of creating space around the vehicle and practicing safe driving habits.
2. Be aware of blind spots
Adequate visibility is an important component of fleet driver safety and collision prevention — especially when operating a large commercial vehicle, known to have more blind spots than a standard passenger vehicle. Increasing visibility in the vehicle can prevent accidents and save lives. Encourage your drivers to understand their vehicle’s blind spots, use extra caution when changing lanes, and check their mirrors every 10 seconds.
Using technology like blind-spot detection systems and backup cameras can further reduce risk, providing an added layer of security. Regular training on blind spot awareness and proper mirror adjustments will show drivers how to navigate safely in challenging conditions.
3. Keep a safe following distance
The bigger the rig, the longer it takes to stop, making it all the more important for professional drivers to keep a safe distance. Compared to an average-sized car, it takes an 18-wheeler 40% longer to stop. That’s a scary prospect on the road, when situations can change quickly. To make sure your drivers keep a safe following distance, invest in AI dash cams. AI dash cams can alert to close following and other unsafe behaviors in real time, so drivers can change their behavior before it causes an accident.
4. Avoid hard braking, acceleration, and cornering
Hard braking, hard acceleration, and hard cornering are among the most common aggressive driving behaviors. To stay safe on the road, drivers should avoid slamming on their brakes or accelerating too harshly. Driver coaching programs can go a long way in preventing unsafe habits like these, simply by increasing driver awareness. Today’s safety technologies are equipped with automated alerts and driver apps that allow drivers to self-coach without manager involvement.
Fleets can also improve driver safety by tracking safety performance improvement over time. For example, the Motive AI Dashcam has a driver safety score that automatically ranks drivers according to how safely they drive. Drivers are ranked on how high their scores are, with score 100 indicating perfection. Safety managers can easily identify at-risk drivers who require immediate coaching, or recognize drivers for notable improvement.
Managers can track improvement by day, week, month, or year. Through the power of AI, Motive provides accurate context for critical safety events by considering additional factors, such as location, weather, and the type of vehicle.
5. Be attentive
Distracted driving gets a lot of attention in commercial transportation, and rightly so. However, according to the National Safety Council, the problem isn’t distracted driving so much as inattentive driving.
“The act of driving takes a great deal of cognition,” says Ryan Pietzsch, program technical advisor for driver safety at NSC. “It’s easy for drivers to allow their minds to wander, especially when traveling long distances or familiar routes. Both scenarios lead to complacency, and that’s when crashes and near-misses occur.”
Drivers tend to be more vigilant in situations that are new or unfamiliar. To heighten driver awareness, coaches should work with drivers to make them more aware of their decisions. “This is another area where video-based tools such as AI-powered dash cams can help,” Pietzsch says. Through real-time alerts — triggered by distracted driving and other unsafe driving behaviors — AI dash cams can disrupt complacency and improve performance.
6. Stay away from tailgaters
It may seem like common sense, but a big part of safe commercial driving involves avoiding aggressive drivers. If your driver has to stop suddenly, tailgaters may not be able to brake in time, potentially causing a crash. To stay away from tailgaters and avoid accidents, encourage your drivers to switch lanes, let tailgaters pass, and activate their turn signals well in advance.
7. Above all, run a safe program
Out on the road, a split-second lapse is all it takes to put lives in danger. That’s why it’s so important for fleet management to build a comprehensive safety program that champions the latest technology and data to keep their drivers safe.
In conclusion, here’s a simple truck safety inspection checklist that drivers can review each time they take to the road:
- Obey all posted speed limits.
- Always practice defensive driving.
- Don’t use distracting devices while driving.
- Wear your seatbelt.
- Be well-rested.
- Check your vehicle before driving.
- Double-check your route and stick to it.
For more on improving driver safety, check out our interview with the National Safety Council. Get on the road to safer performance with our Ultimate Guide: Building a World-Class Fleet Safety Program.
