Road-Ready Every Day: Daily Safety Habits That Keep CMV Drivers Alive and Alert

Welcome to the I told you so section of this course, where we tell you what everyone knows but too many ignore anyway. That's right, we're talking about the things you should do each and every time you get behind the wheel. No excuses. First, make a habit of buckling up no matter how long or short the drive. It's mandatory under FMCSA regulations, and there are some hefty fines for ignoring the law. If you have a passenger, insist they wear a seatbelt, too. If you're having flashbacks of your mother lecturing you on seatbelts, she was right. They save lives, lessen the severity of injuries and enable you to stay inside your vehicle in case of a crash. Your chances of being killed are 25% higher if you're thrown out of your vehicle. You know what else is a major risk factor? Driving with distractions, which are a major cause of accidents. It can be so tempting to multitask or look around, especially during long drives. But remember, you're not a passenger. You're responsible for giving all of your attention to the road. FMCSA recommends that drivers avoid eating and drinking, reading a map or interacting with their gps, controlling a pet or anything else that takes your eyes off the road. Regulations specifically prohibit texting or using a cell phone when on the road. If you need to do anything other than driving, pull over or get off the next exit. Next, we'll look at the steps you could take to actively drive safely and avoid acc.