When you earned your commercial truck driver license, there was a lot of emphasis on driving safety but what about your personal safety? Depending on where your route takes you, you could find yourself in a dangerous situation that could leave you injured or worse. Protect yourself the way you protect your rig and load while you’re on the road. Midlane Truck & Trailer Repair offers five safety tips below.
Avoid Danger
When we say avoid danger, we don’t just mean road hazards. Keep an eye on your route and avoid things that could pose a personal danger to you. A high-crime area is just one thing that can place you harm’s way. See if you can find an alternate route to avoid anything that puts you at risk. If you can’t, try to adjust your driving times to drive through the high-crime area only when it’s light outside.
Be Aware of Your Surroundings
Always be aware of your surroundings when you’re on the road and when you have stopped. Look for personal dangers. For example, suppose you see a truck stop ahead and you’d like to take a break. When you pull off the highway, however, you see the truck stop itself is decrepit and there are a ton of loiterers. Move on to the next stop if you can or park your truck where you can see it at all times.
Keep the Doors Locked
Always keep the doors to your cab locked. It doesn’t matter if you’re driving, if you’re stopping for a restroom break, or you’re stopping for the night. You never know what someone will do. Truck drivers have been dragged out of their cabs and beaten during violent protests in the past. Use the same safety approach you taught your teenage daughter. Keep the doors locked and an eye out for trouble.
Sleep Only in Lit Areas
Only sleep in lit areas. It might be tempting to pull off the road and park in a dark spot so you can really get some rest, but this is dangerous. Use truck stops when you can so you’re parked with other truck drivers. This helps you all protect each other. If you need to take a sleep break and there isn’t a truck or rest stop for miles, park underneath a street light. Usually, you can find a lit area below the off-ramp.
Stay Healthy
Finally, stay healthy. Make sure you get your driver’s physicals when you should and take all approved prescriptions. Don’t push yourself when you’re on the road and stay hydrated with water, not caffeinated, sugary drinks. Eat healthy meals and snacks and get plenty of rest. The better you feel the more alert you will be, which will help you stay observant.
The truck driver isn’t the only thing that should be kept safe, keep your rig healthy, too, by bringing it to Midlane Truck & Trailer Repair in Eugene, OR.