According to data from Transport Canada’s National Collision Database, distracted driving contributed to an estimated 21% of fatal collisions and 27% of serious injury collisions in 2016. The risk of a collision goes up when a driver’s eyes and attention are taken off the road. This is because distraction impairs performance and reduces a driver’s awareness. It makes drivers slower to notice and less able to safely respond to critical events on the road. Or they may miss them entirely.
Commercial trucks require your total concentration, and taking your eyes off the road—even for a few seconds—could lead to a fatal vehicle crash. This could be protected by:
- Don’t text—you’re 23 times more likely to crash your truck when texting.
- Use hands-free mobile phones—you’re six times more likely to cause an accident when dialing your cell phone.
- Don’t drive drunk—alcohol increases the risk of fatal crashes by seven times.
Expert Tip: If you feel fatigued, stop your truck and take a break. You don’t want to fall asleep while driving your 18-wheeler on highway.