According to the US Department of Labor, nearly 40% of all accidents at work in 2016 were related to transport incidents. In Poland, the Central Statistical Office statistics for 2019 officially indicate 6,4% of such cases. This indicator is still too high. Can it be effectively improved? truck driver safety and other professional drivers? How to do it?
Dangers lurking for drivers
Professional drivers are more exposed to road accidents due to their job. They often happen through no fault of the driver, although there are also situations when the driver drives very fast, does not adjust speed to road conditions, wanting to make the delivery of goods on time.
Another risk that drivers have to deal with is the threat of theft. According to the German organization ASW Nord, goods transported by trucks are stolen in Germany every 20 minutes. Every year, almost 26 cars are stolen, and the total value of the goods lost is up to 000 billion euros. In addition to the financial losses themselves, there is also the threat of harm to the driver. How can the dangers that drivers face be minimized?
Tools to increase driver safety on the road
Safe driver is a person equipped with modern tools and professional security systems, increasing the level of employee protection. Technologically advanced programs such as Routimo allow you to carefully plan your route. The application allows you to develop and optimize the route, taking into account specific conditions, such as the driver's working time, which helps eliminate the risk of accidents caused by fatigue. The innovative program is used not only to plan the optimal route, but also to provide drivers with a safe working environment, which translates into time and money, thanks to reducing the number of accidents caused by distracted driving.
In addition, each truck should be equipped with an anti-theft lock, which will save some time before the police arrive. It is also worth installing GPS in cars, systems monitoring the cargo area doors with signaling their opening, sensors or cargo tarpaulin locks that activate the alarm in the event of its damage. An important tool is also a panic alarm in the driver's cabin, which sends an alarm SMS or e-mail to the company if activated, without issuing any voice signals.
Internal regulations
Safe driver is also a conscious employee, which is why he should be regularly acquainted with current instructions on how to proceed in life-threatening situations or in the case of transported cargo. Internal regulations should clearly indicate guidelines on how to proceed in specific situations, e.g. forcing a car to stop or simulated, suspicious accidents on the road.