{"id":3505,"date":"2021-05-27T16:08:46","date_gmt":"2021-05-27T06:08:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/truckdealers.com.au\/editorial\/?p=3505"},"modified":"2021-05-27T16:08:46","modified_gmt":"2021-05-27T06:08:46","slug":"safe-drive-safety-driving-tips-for-new-truckers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/truckdealers.com.au\/editorial\/safe-drive-safety-driving-tips-for-new-truckers\/","title":{"rendered":"Safe Drive: Safety Driving Tips for New Truckers"},"content":{"rendered":"

The transportation industry of today is in a state of constant rush. This makes it all the more important for drivers to follow <\/span>driving safety rules<\/span>, particularly for the new truckers.<\/span><\/h2>\n

Road safety tips for drivers<\/span> must always be on your mind, regardless of your experience. A single slip-up may spell disaster for road users other than the operator of the truck.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Complicating matters is the fact that the transportation industry runs on tight deadlines. There may be times when you\u2019ll feel like the rabbit in Lewis Carol\u2019s <\/span>Alice in Wonderland<\/span><\/i>. New truckers, in particular, may succumb to the pressure and put <\/span>road safety tips<\/span> on the back burner.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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On the bright side, <\/span>driving safety rules<\/span> are logical, easy to understand, and readily applicable under a range of driving conditions. To help you kick off your new career to the safest of starts, have a look at these essential <\/span>road safety<\/span> tips.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Six <\/span>Driving Tips for New Drivers<\/span><\/h3>\n

Tip #1 – Understand the Surroundings<\/span><\/h3>\n

Always be aware of what\u2019s going on around you, keep an eye on the surroundings, and be ready to assess whatever situation may arise. In particular, pay attention to other motorists and sudden traffic changes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Don\u2019t forget to check all the mirrors, and not just when turning or changing lanes. As you know, this is how you find out if there are other vehicles in your blind spot, which can be sizable when you\u2019re driving a truck.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Also, checking the mirrors and monitoring the traffic is a great way to preview if there\u2019s an obstacle further down the road. You\u2019re at a higher vantage point to see what\u2019s ahead, which you\u2019re well-advised to take advantage of.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Tip #2 – Take Regular Breaks<\/span><\/h3>\n

Fatigue and drowsiness are common in this line of work. That\u2019s why when it comes to <\/span>defensive driving safety,<\/span> you should know how to detect the first signs of fatigue and sleepiness.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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While a little tiredness may come up here and there, you\u2019re best off taking a break if you think exhaustion is already affecting your reflexes. Pull over at a suitable spot and take your rest before continuing the trip.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Other signs that you might deserve a rest before soldiering on include heavy eyelids, frequent yawning, and blurred vision.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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You may think that coffee and energy drinks can keep you awake. But these are no substitute for proper rest and might not even do anything for your focus.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Tip #3 – Maintain a Safe Distance<\/span><\/h3>\n

One of the oldest and most repeated <\/span>road safety tips<\/span>, keeping a safe distance is the surest way to prevent accidents. But how much of a distance should you stay behind exactly?\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Keep in mind that regular vehicles will take about 316ft to come to a stop when travelling at 65mph. A loaded truck, in contrast, might need twice the distance when moving at the same speed. Understandably, road conditions might not always allow for that distance, nor will you be travelling at 65mph constantly.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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You can refer to the Department of Highway Safety\u2019s recommendation to operate your truck at about eight seconds behind the vehicle ahead of you.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

However, that\u2019s for normal road conditions. You\u2019re going to need a more extended braking distance when the conditions are unfavourable.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Tip #4 – Overtake Safely<\/span><\/h3>\n

One of the most misunderstood <\/span>road safety tips for drivers<\/span> of heavy-duty trucks has to do with how and when to overtake.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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The first rule of thumb is to not step on the accelerator when being overtaken. A little road courtesy and patience can save you a lot of trouble.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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And when you\u2019re doing the overtaking, stay behind the vehicle in front until you can clearly see what\u2019s happening on the road ahead. Overtake quickly and decisively but do not merge until you can see both headlights on the overtaken vehicle in your mirror.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Tip #5 – Don\u2019t Cut in In Front of Other Drivers<\/span><\/h3>\n

On the highway or when nearing a traffic light, it\u2019s critical not to cut in in front of others. As you may know, a fully-loaded truck could weigh up to 50 times more than a regular sedan and you don\u2019t want to risk not being able to stop in time.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Luckily, you might not have to cut in at all.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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If your truck is more than 7.5 metres long, you can use the \u201cDO NOT OVERTAKE TURNING VEHICLE\u201d sign. That makes it legal for you to turn from the second and third lanes. It\u2019s pretty handy when you have to get around a corner.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Tip #6 – Dip High Beams<\/span><\/h3>\n

Before you get to a curve or crest, you should definitely dip those high beams as you wouldn\u2019t want to blind the drivers coming from the other direction. Additionally, you\u2019ll want to do this as early as possible when you\u2019re overtaking or behind other trucks.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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With that in mind, it\u2019s only safe to use the high beams again when you pass the mirrors of the truck coming from the other direction. Check the headlight alignment every so often, especially if you\u2019re fully loaded and on a cross-country trip.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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As for the fog lights, take note that they\u2019re really only for fog. Turning them on in any other condition could visually impair other drivers.<\/span><\/p>\n

Drive Safely<\/span><\/h3>\n

Many dangers lie in wait for the unsuspecting truckers on the road. As you gain experience, you\u2019ll get better at avoiding hazards and <\/span>road safety tips for drivers<\/span> may just become second nature.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Brush up on what you learned at your <\/span>driving safety course<\/span>, of which always being aware of your surroundings may just be the most important. Do that and you\u2019ll make better decisions when overtaking, turning, and switching lanes.<\/span><\/p>\n

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If you\u2019re thinking about upgrading your truck or simply wondering about what\u2019s out there, <\/span>head over to\u00a0 Truck Dealers Australia<\/span><\/a> today and check out our assortment of new and used vehicles and parts.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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The transportation industry of today is in a state of constant rush. This makes it all the more important for drivers to follow driving safety rules, particularly for the new truckers. Road safety tips for drivers must always be on your mind, regardless of your experience. A single slip-up may spell disaster for road users […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":3487,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[12],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/truckdealers.com.au\/editorial\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3505"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/truckdealers.com.au\/editorial\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/truckdealers.com.au\/editorial\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/truckdealers.com.au\/editorial\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/truckdealers.com.au\/editorial\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3505"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/truckdealers.com.au\/editorial\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3505\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3506,"href":"https:\/\/truckdealers.com.au\/editorial\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3505\/revisions\/3506"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/truckdealers.com.au\/editorial\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3487"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/truckdealers.com.au\/editorial\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3505"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/truckdealers.com.au\/editorial\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3505"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/truckdealers.com.au\/editorial\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3505"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}