What Are the Most Common Causes of Serious Commercial Vehicle Accidents?
by Abdul Aziz Mondal Automotive Published on: 15 March 2021 Last Updated on: 07 November 2024
Learning how to drive is a rite of passage for many people. Many of us have memories of taking driver’s education classes at school. Then, we get our learner’s permit, drive with someone else for a few months or a year, and then get our full license. Some people like driving so much they decide to do it as a career. If you are looking for commercial drivers, you need to hire the right person to operate your motor vehicle. That way, they protect themselves, the company, and other drivers on the road. On the other hand, when commercial vehicle accidents take place, they can be deadly.
Many commercial vehicles are significantly larger than your standard sedan. Therefore, you should do an MVR check for employers before you decide to hire a commercial driver. What are some of the most common causes of serious commercial vehicle accidents?
Driving While Tired:
Without a doubt, one of the most common causes of commercial vehicle accidents is driving while tired. In some industries, there is an incentive for drivers to drive as far as possible. For example, some industries pay drivers by the mile. If that is the case, it is obvious that drivers have an incentive to drive farther. On the other hand, this could also lead to people operating motor vehicles while tired.
If you make the decision to drive while tired, you are not going to react as quickly to changing road conditions. As a result, you may not realize when a pedestrian steps out in front of you, when you enter a construction zone, or when a traffic jam develops. If you are not able to react to changing road conditions, accidents will happen. If these accidents involve commercial vehicles, they can lead to significant injuries.
Driving Under the Influence of Drugs or Alcohol:
Another common cause of commercial vehicle accidents is driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Drunk driving has been a major area of focus throughout society during the past few decades. Even though this has had an impact on the rates of people driving while intoxicated, drug use is still a problem behind the wheel.
Remember how some drivers will drive while tired to get paid a few extra dollars? In some cases, people will even use drugs to keep themselves awake. Unfortunately, this does not make them safer drivers. This only increases the chances of suffering a motor vehicle accident. Driving under the influence remains a major cause of commercial vehicle accidents.
Inadequate Vehicle Maintenance:
If you own a fleet of commercial vehicles, you need to keep them maintained. You may think that you only need to take your vehicle to the shop when something goes wrong. On the other hand, wouldn’t you rather prevent a problem from happening? If you want to reduce the chances of your vehicle breaking down, you need to invest in property vehicle maintenance.
If you do not maintain your vehicles appropriately, you could experience problems with your wheels, tires, brakes, or even your fuel line. This will only increase the chances of an accident taking place. Make sure that you maintain your vehicles on time.
Inadequate Driver Training:
Finally, driving a commercial vehicle is very different from driving a typical sedan. You need to ensure that every driver who operates a commercial vehicle has been trained to do so. If your driver drives a tractor-trailer the same way he or she drives a sedan, accidents are going to happen. No matter whether you have forklifts, dump trucks, or steam rollers, make sure that your drivers are properly licensed to operate these vehicles. That way, you reduce the chances of a serious accident taking place.
Take Steps To Avoid Commercial Vehicle Accidents:
Similar to typical car accidents, commercial vehicle accidents can take place at any time. There are a number of causes that people need to know. If you are interested in reducing commercial vehicle accidents, hire the right person for the job. Make sure that you investigate the driving history of all your applicants. That way, you can make the right hiring decision for your business.
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