Learning how to drive a truck is excellent, especially if you plan to work as a trucker. Therefore, it is only sensible to enrol in a training school that offers truck-driving lessons. One area in truck driving lessons that is of particular importance in defensive driving. Notably, most newbie truck drivers, especially those fresh from driving school, believe that every motorist observes care while on the road. However, that would only be true in a perfect world, but since this is not the case, you should anticipate risks beforehand, and this is what defensive driving is all about. This article looks at what you should expect from defensive truck driving lessons.
Statistics on Trucking Traffic Crashes — When you start defensive driving classes, your instructors will share current statistics related to trucking traffic crushes. How else will you understand the importance of defensive driving if you don't have the statistics? For instance, between 2016 and 2017, there was a 2.6% increase in people killed through heavy truck crashes. Moreover, few of these fatalities were truck drivers, with the majority being occupants of small vehicles. This only goes to show you that while few truck drivers die from heavy vehicle crashes, defensive driving can go a long way in preventing fatal crushes to occupants of lightweight vehicles.
Crash Dynamics — When most people come across a traffic accident involving a heavy-duty vehicle, they often think that the impact between the vehicles is the initial cause of the fatalities. However, nothing could be further from the truth because many crash dynamics come into play in any traffic accident. One such dynamic is the doctrine of the second collision. This is where the truck driver collides with features in the cabin, such as the windshield and the steering wheel. This is mainly caused by momentum from the truck's speed. By learning about this concept, truck drivers can understand the importance of using the safety features in their trucks, such as seat belts, as part of defensive driving.
Truck Driving Preparation — The primary objective of any defensive driving lesson is to prevent accidents and potential fatalities, and the best way to achieve this is proper preparation. Some of the things learners are asked to keep an eye on include understanding a truck's stopping distance, weather conditions, right of way rule and load sharing, among others. The better prepared a truck driver is, the more comfortable they are with their defensive driving, thereby reducing the possibility of an accident.
To learn more about safe driving, contact a school offering driving lessons in your area.
Share27 February 2020
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