Roadway Hazards - Driving Hazards - Trucks - Safety Training Video
25Roadway hazards are all around us, and made worse by distracted drivers. Tailgating other vehicles can cause you to be injured in crashes like these. Bad drivers, crazy driving and lack of proper driver training make us vulnerable.
To avoid accidents, we must learn from what causes crashes and apply these lesson when we are behind the wheel.
What caused this accident? A combination of factors - bad brakes, worn tires, speeding, compressed gas cylinder cargo not properly secured, driver distraction - all contributed to what could have become a terribly tragic accident.
Accidents like this remind us of the many hazards that share the roadways with us.
Truck drivers should inspect their trucks every day. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), failure to inspect your truck is one of the top violations found every year. Bad brakes and worn tires are also in the top ten violations.
Although the video featured in this film is not from the U.S., the cargo, roadways, speed limits and driver safety rules are similar in many countries, and it highlights the hazards that can be found on most country's roads.
In the U.S., fatalities and crashes involving trucks have been steadily rising for the past several years. Much of it has been blamed on poor maintenance, faulty inspections and distracted drivers.
Failure to comply with traffic laws can cause truck drivers to lose their livelihood by losing their commercial driver's license. If they receive a certain number of points against them, their licenses,and possibly the license for the carriers they work for, can be revoked.
If you drive a car, it is important that you be aware of the hazards around you, especially when traveling at higher speeds. Even a moment's distraction can cause a fatal accident.
The FMCSA revokes licenses and shuts carriers down a regular basis. Make sure you are not one of those drivers affected. Stay safe and follow the traffic laws.
FMCSA News Releases:
http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/newsroom/news
Compliance, Safety & Accountability Unsafe Driver Fact Sheet:
http://csa.fmcsa.dot.gov/Documents/FMC_CSA_12_008_BASICs_UnsafeDriving.pdf
2012 FARS Data on Large Truck and Bus Fatal Crashes:
http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/sites/fmcsa.dot.gov/files/docs/2012%20FARS%20Data%20on%20Large%20Truck%20and%20Bus%20Fatal%20Crashes.pdf
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For more information about traffic safety and what you as a driver can do about it:
http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/consumer-protection/report-safety-violations