What is the Main Distraction for Truck Drivers?

Distracted trucking is a major threat to public safety. Tractor-trailers and other large trucks can destroy smaller vehicles and cause fatal injuries whenever they collide. Anyone injured in a jackknife, override, or lane change accident can suffer horrifying brain damage, fractures, and amputations. More than 1,000 people are killed each year in fatal truck accidents across the country.

Distracted driving is a real problem for the transportation industry. Long-haul trucking is a monotonous job, so many truckers are looking to keep themselves entertained. They can easily pick up their phone and start texting or talking to friends and family. And then they get into an accident as a result.

Mobile Phones Are a Main Source of Distraction

Probably the #1 distraction for truckers is the cell phone. Truckers rely on phones for the same reason as other motorists: to stay connected with family and their employer. Other truckers might use a smartphone for GPS capabilities or to search for directions.

Cell phones cause multiple impairments, including manual and visual distraction. While a trucker is holding a phone, they obviously have at least one hand off the wheel. Consequently, they might be unable to take swift action to change lanes using only one hand. By looking at the phone, a trucker also cannot see what is happening right in front of them. Without intending to, they can drive straight over a smaller car stopped in front of them.

Cognitive distraction is another problem. Research has shown that even when a driver is looking at the road, they might be distracted by the conversation they just had a minute earlier.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has responded by banning hand-held cell phones for truckers. Anyone caught violating the law will be fined.

Although this law is a step in the right direction, it still allows truckers to use a “hands free” device. As mentioned above, phones can create cognitive distraction even when a truck driver has both eyes on the road. They might not “see” a car in front of them because they are still thinking about a conversation. Ideally, the FMCSA will ban all cell phone use, but that day has not yet arrived.

Contact our firm if you are injured. We can search for evidence to prove the trucker’s distraction led to the crash. Some trucking companies have installed cameras inside the cabs, which might provide unambiguous proof the trucker was on their phone right before impact. We can also request access to other evidence, like cell phones. You can also share your observations of the trucker, who might admit they were talking on the phone.

Speak with a Portland Truck Accident Lawyer Directly

Rosenbaum Law Group, PC, has the experience that accident victims need to bring a distracted trucking claim. Other sources of distraction include food, passengers, and GPS devices. Whenever a distracted trucker causes a wreck, we can demand financial compensation for injured victims. Trucks should have minimum insurance policies to cover a settlement.

To learn more, call our office to speak with a Portland truck accident lawyer in a free consultation, 503-288-8000.

Sources:

fmcsa.dot.gov/driver-safety/distracted-driving/mobile-phone-restrictions-fact-sheet

science.org/content/article/talking-car-or-smartphone-impairs-driving-longer-you-think-2