Do Truck Drivers Need to Buckle Up?
Most people agree that wearing a seatbelt in a car is a good idea. Few people would ever leave their driveway before ensuring they are buckled up along with all their passengers. The same cannot be said for commercial truck drivers. There’s a lot of talk about the necessity for truck drivers to wear seatbelts and whether or not it matters.
Well, seat belts do matter for truck drivers, and we’re going to explain why.
Highway Accidents
When you’re driving a truck that is well in excess of 10,000 lbs it is easy to feel invincible, and that is the mentality of many truck drivers who opt not to wear a seatbelt, heck some trucks don’t actually come with seatbelts and according to Ontario law, if a truck doesn’t come with a seatbelt you don’t necessarily have to have one installed. Even still, having one installed is a smart idea. You see, you’re not invincible and for long-haul truckers, you may be surprised to know that more than 50 per cent of fatal crashes and 80 per cent of crash related injuries happen on highways - the exact same routes truck drivers spend much of their time driving. And if you’ve driven a truck on a highway more than once, you’ve seen other big trucks mangled on the side of the road - so much for being invincible.
“Like other motor vehicle accidents, common causes include driver fatigue, distracted driving, excessive speed, vehicle malfunction, drug or alcohol-related impairment, illegal maneuvers, reckless driving and unfamiliarity with the route. Trucks also carry loads which may cause an accident if they are improperly secured, overloaded, or they shift or dislodge.” - James R. Howie, Mondaq
Bad Habits
Multiple studies and reports have shown that truck drivers who don’t wear seat belts also tend to have a higher chance at driving in other reckless ways. A seat belt may not only save your life but also act as a reminder to drive properly and professionally.
A report from the US Centers for Disease Control states, "… results indicated that never using a seatbelt while driving a truck was significantly associated with often driving ten or more mph over the speed limit... and receiving two or more moving violation tickets in the preceding 12 months."
How Big is the Issue?
Actually, it is a pretty big issue. Some studies have found that upwards of 1 in 6, or 17 per cent of long-haul truck drivers don’t wear seatbelts. Considering there are 250,000 or more truck drivers in Canada, there is a good chance you know one or more of the 42,500 drivers not wearing their seat belts regularly and putting themselves at risk.
In our humble opinion, wearing a seat belt is a smart idea for everyone on the road, including truck drivers. When it comes to your own personal safety and security - why take a chance? Buckle up.
