In 2022, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported 3,308 fatalities in crashes involving distracted drivers, accounting for roughly 9% of all fatal collisions on U.S. roads. For commercial truck drivers, the risks are even more pronounced.
A Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration study found that truckers who text while driving are a staggering 23.2 times more likely to be involved in an accident than their nondistracted counterparts.
To put the danger of distracted driving into perspective, consider this: At 60 miles per hour, a driver who glances at the phone to read a text for just seven seconds will travel more than 600 feet – or over two football fields – without looking up. Even very brief distractions, like reading a billboard for 1.5 seconds, can result in traveling over 130 feet without paying full attention to the road.
April is recognized as Distracted Driving Awareness Month, acting as a reminder to all motorists – including truckers – to make safe choices on the road. Despite ongoing education efforts, distracted driving remains a leading cause of injury and fatality crashes on America’s highways.
Distracted driving encompasses any activity that diverts a driver’s attention from the critical task of safe vehicle operation. This includes the obvious culprits like texting or talking on a phone – even in hands-free mode – but also extends to seemingly innocuous actions such as eating, drinking, conversing with passengers, adjusting vehicle controls or even daydreaming.
“In my past career as a fleet professional, I lost one driver, a father of two and husband, to a completely avoidable fatigued/distracted crash. That was one too many. Dash cameras, if available at the time, could have kept that great driver alive,” said J. J. Keller Senior Transport Management Editor Mark Schedler.
The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) found that drivers convicted of reckless or inattentive driving have a 62% greater chance of being involved in a Department of Transportation-reportable accident.
The consequences of such behavior extend beyond immediate safety concerns. The legal ramifications are significant, with fines of up to $2,750 for drivers and $11,000 for carriers who violate the federal ban on hand-held electronic device use for commercial drivers.
Understanding the nature of distraction is crucial to addressing the issue effectively. Distracted driving encompasses three categories: visual (taking eyes off the road), manual (removing hands from the wheel) and cognitive (mind not focused on driving). Using a mobile device while driving involves all three types of distraction, making it particularly dangerous.
Two forms of cognitive distraction – inattention blindness and highway hypnosis – can render drivers unable to perceive hazards even when their eyes are on the road. Factors such as overconfidence, extended periods of driving without breaks, night driving and even a warm cab can contribute to these dangerous mental states.
The stakes are high, and the time has come for trucking companies to move beyond simple awareness of these risks and begin taking concrete action to reduce distracted driving in their fleets.
Implementing a comprehensive safety policy is essential. These policies should cover pre-trip preparations, communication protocols and the use of camera-driven coaching systems. AI-powered cameras – like those offered by J. J. Keller – identify a range of unsafe behaviors, from unintended lane departures to hand-held cellphone use. Early detection enables timely intervention and corrective action.
“Company safety slogans are hollow promises, unless backed by detecting and correcting all unsafe behavior,” added Schedler. “Leaders must show by their actions every day that safety is a value, not a situational priority.”
A road- and driver-facing camera can detect events requiring corrective action, including:
- Unintended lane departures
- Hard-brake events
- Following too close
- Hand-held cellphone use
- Adjusting the radio
- Excessive drowsiness
- Eyes off the roadway
Encouraging regular breaks and providing tips to maintain concentration are also vital strategies. Simple actions like keeping the cab cool, engaging in mental activities and maintaining proper posture can help drivers stay alert and focused on the task at hand.
Carrier personnel should only call drivers when they know the driver’s vehicle is safely parked. It takes all the driver’s attention to operate a commercial vehicle. In order to achieve this, companies should have a nondistracting method to let drivers know to call the office, such as an alert to an in-cab device that indicates a need for communication.
Ultimately, creating a culture of safety is paramount.
“A carrier’s culture must make distracted and fatigued driving unacceptable,” according to Schedler. “Regardless of how urgent the perceived need is, don’t put lives at risk. When I dispatched drivers, I coached them as if my family were in the car next to my drivers.”
With the technology and knowledge available today, there’s no excuse for not taking decisive action against distracted driving. Camera-driven coaching systems offer a powerful tool to detect, correct and ultimately prevent dangerous behaviors behind the wheel.
Distracted Driving Awareness Month should act as a call to action for carriers across the nation. By prioritizing safety through comprehensive policies, advanced technology and a culture of accountability, the trucking industry can work toward a future where preventable tragedies become a thing of the past. The lives of drivers and the motoring public depend on it.
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