Trucker's Connection - January 2020

Safety
Tips
and in many cases who we are. Values don’t
change easily, and some don’t change at all.
Priorities are something else entirely. They can
change, depending on need and circumstance.
When you’re hungry, for example, finding a
restaurant might be a priority. An hour later,
something else is on the top of the priority list.
That’s why making safety a “priority” isn’t
good enough. Our driving decisions must be
based on our values.
When safety is only a priority, we check the
phone to see who the text message is from
before we decide if it’s important or it can wait.
When safety is a value, on the other hand, we
don’t read text messages while driving, period.
A safety priority says we’ll drive at the speed
limit unless the load is in danger of being late.
If that’s the case, we’ll drive faster and cut
corners to make up the time. A safety value
means we’ll choose safety over timeliness.
A safety priority says we’ll go a little long on
driving hours because we’re almost home. A
safety value means nothing trumps getting
home safely, even if we need a break to do so.
So, as the Christmas season creeps closer,
take a moment to examine your attitude
towards safety. Is it a value for you? Do you
take pride in knowing that you not only avoid
accidents, but you help prevent them by
considering the impact your driving decisions
have on other motorists? Here are some
simple things that have a great impact on the
probability you’ll be involved in a crash:
Speed does kill: Slowing down gives you more
time to react to hazards.
Following distance: Over time, it’s easy to
become complacent about following distance,
inching closer and closer to the vehicle ahead.
It’s a good idea to test yourself, counting off the
seconds it takes for the nose of your vehicle to
reach a point the vehicle in front has already
passed. If you don’t have five to six seconds of
following distance, you’re living on borrowed
time. Sooner or later, you will be involved in a
rear-end collision with the vehicle in front.
Driving decisions: Very often, a driving
decision isn’t as simple as “safe” versus
“unsafe.” By considering the risks involved
with each available option, you can make the
choice providing the maximum benefit with the
smallest amount of risk for everyone. Left turns
are a great example. It’s easy to assume an
oncoming driver will see your vehicle turning
across their traffic lane and slow down before
colliding. What if they don’t?
Remain in control: In the left turn example,
you can’t be sure what will happen if you
put your faith in other drivers reacting as you
might expect. You can remain in control by NOT
making the turn in front of them. Absolutely, it
may mean waiting longer for a bigger traffic
gap, but it also means you’ll never have to say,
“I thought they would stop…”
As the year winds down, take some time to
think about your value of safety and how it
can apply to traffic situations. Remember that
other drivers may not have your skillset—or
your values. Your driving decisions should help
protect them as well as yourself.
After all, we all have a better Christmas when
we make it home.
16 TRUCKER’S CONNECTION www.TruckersConnection.com