Monthly Archives: January 2017

Jan 12
2

5 Practical Health Tips on the Road

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Believe it or not, driving can also be a stressful activity. Being behind the wheel for hours at a time can take its toll on your health. You might experience headaches, back and leg pains, as well as hunger pangs at odd times.

In fact, a few road accidents can be attributed to drivers in bad health. For example: exhausted truck drivers who lack sleep and proper nutrition have been known to cause collisions. Any driver can tell how important it is to stay good shape even while traveling.

Although it’s a challenge, the following tips should help you remain healthy – even while on the road.

 

Easy Health Tips on the Road For Every Driver:

1) Choose comfortable clothing.

This might seem like a small detail, but what you wear can impact how you’d feel while driving. Pick light, comfortable fabrics such as cotton. Simply change to your actual outfit when you arrive at your destination. Try investing in good compression socks to keep your feet warm, and also prevent deep vein thrombosis during travel.

 

2) Pack healthy snacks and choose your meals during rest stops.

There are tons of healthy snack options on the Web. You can lookup recipes for homemade granola bars and trail mix on various websites. Not in the mood to cook or there’s simply no time? Opt for preservative-free beef jerky, low-sugar yogurt, and cut-up vegetables or fresh fruits for the journey.

If you’re stopping for meals, don’t just let your stomach take over. One of the most practical health tips on the road is to select wisely from the menu. Grilled or baked is better than fried, and make sure you add a bit of fiber (e.g. tossed salad) on the side.

 

3) Stay hydrated with water.

One of the most important health tips on the road is to drink lots of water. Whether it’s summer or winter, getting enough fluids is essential for overall performance and alertness. Plus, you remain fuller for longer.

Avoid soda or sweet drinks. Watch how many caffeinated beverages you drink as these can sometimes lead to dehydration. Just carry a water bottle with you and fill it up during your stops. It’s convenient, and gives you a reason to stretch your legs.

 

4) Don’t forget sunscreen and sunglasses.

Even if you’ll be behind the wheel, the sun can still cause problems. Make sure you pack the right sunglasses and sunscreen to protect yourself.

 

5) Make frequent stops (for rest and stretching).

NEVER attempt to keep driving when you feel yourself already drowsing off!

Take frequent breaks during daytime to get out and enjoy the view. Do some stretches or maybe even a quick jog if you can. If traveling with others, switch drivers so you can nap. Completely stop for the night to catch a solid 8 hours.

One of the leading causes of truck accidents on the road are exhausted drivers who keep pushing themselves past their limit. Keep yourself – and other motorists – safe on the road. Make sleep a priority, too.

 

Conclusion

These health tips on the road aren’t absolute – but they are vital to keep yourself on optimum condition when driving. Other things you should remember include: carrying an emergency kit, getting a medical before a long trip, and packing the meds you need.

Just because you’re driving doesn’t mean you should neglect your health.

If you or a loved one has been involved in a trucking accident recently, get in touch with a legal expert right away. This is to help you determine the primary causes of the event. If this was about negligence on the truck driver’s part (e.g. exhaustion), an experienced truck accident attorney can help you get the compensation you deserve.

Jan 05
1

Trucking Accidents: Dangers of Truck Loads

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The wide, open road is like a double-edged sword. On one side, it spells freedom and adventure, the chance to make a livelihood or find new places. But on the other side, it’s a dangerous path full of risks – and even the possibility of fatalities.

In 2015, California incurred 2,925 fatal crashes, resulting in 3,176 deaths, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). One percent of those are from trucking accidents.

While crashes among regular vehicles such as cars are common, collisions from big rigs pose a different threat due to their immense size and weight. That, along with their various loads, can make road accidents a nightmare – not only for the vehicles involved, but also for other motorists on the highway.

Just how dangerous are truck loads? And what can drivers do to avoid accidents caused by it?

 

Unsecured Truck Loads

Fatalities from big rigs are not only caused by crashes or jackknifing. If a truck driver fails to properly load his vehicle, he endangers everybody on the road.

Even ‘harmless’ materials like paper or cartons can become flying debris in an instant – impeding visibility or turning into a road obstacle. Other drivers will react by quickly braking, skidding into others on the highway.

Unsecured loads usually happen when truck drivers:

  • Fail to check if load is appropriately secured with the right equipment (ropes, cables, etc.)
  • Speed up during transportation, causing strain on the equipment holding the load, which can lead to eventual damage or breakage

Once this happens, truck loads could also spill out on the road, resulting to obstruction. Depending on the type of cargo, motorists who encounter them may lose their balance, skid, or crash into the load, leading to injuries.

 

Overloading

Loading trucks is science. Drivers need to be knowledgeable on how to distribute weight evenly so they can drive with peace of mind, while ensuring that their cargo is safe and undamaged.

However, due to strict schedules and tight deadlines, truck drivers are often pressured to load cargo quickly. This may result to improper weight distribution inside the trailer, or even overloading.

Trucks with heavier loads take about 20 to 10 percent longer to stop. This is why it’s never a good idea to tailgate behind big rigs. In the event of an emergency, overloaded vehicles cannot stop on time. Another risk is skidding or tipping over. The imbalance of overloading will make turns or lane changes challenging as well.

When sharing the road with trucks, pay attention to their movement. Are they ‘wobbly’? Are they particularly slow when encountering curves? They could be overloaded. Drive defensively and keep your distance.

 

Hazmat Truck Loads

Trucks carry all sorts of loads: from everyday goods, construction materials, personal packages, food, to Hazmat.

Short for Hazardous materials, this type of truck loads pose a risk not only to motorists on the road, but also to the truck driver. Samples of Hazmat include but are not limited to: battery and battery acid, oxygen tanks, explosives, pesticides, dry ice, etc.

These dangerous goods can be solid, liquid, or gas. Vehicles carrying them have easily visible triangle placards on them, with the classification of the Hazmat they are transporting. But even with the utmost care and handling, accidents happen. In the case of trucks with Hazmat loads, this can turn from bad to worse quickly.

For example: trucks carrying ammunition can burst into flames and endanger everyone within its reach: from cars, homes, to pedestrians. Roads need to close for treatment and damage assessment. Cases where Hazmat truck loads are involved can be highly complicated.

 

Conclusion

If you or someone you know has been involved in a trucking accident in California due to issues with truck loads, contact a legal expert immediately. These cases are complicated; so it’s a good idea to have someone reliable and knowledgeable on your side.

Jan 03
1

2017 Road Safety New Year Resolutions To Avoid Truck Accidents

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Most people love the New Year because it brings hope for new beginnings and fresh starts.

Through discipline, bad habits can be broken and better routines can be formed. From becoming more active, to traveling more, you can set resolutions for every aspect of your life. But if so, why aren’t road safety New Year resolutions a trend?

Safety on the highway should be a priority as much as finances and healthier lifestyle choices. After all, there are thousands of lives that depend on your decisions as a driver. Complete your 2017 goals by setting your own road safety New Year resolutions.

Start with these top four:

 

Road Safety New Year Resolutions #1: No To Mobile Phones

According to the Nation Safety Council (NSC), drivers who were talking on their phones while behind the wheel were 4x more likely to crash. Meanwhile, texting while driving increases that risk from 8 to 23 times. The issue on distracted driving has become a national pressing concern.

So this year, make it your goal to steer clear of the problem. Keep yourself – and your loved ones – safe on the highway by avoiding mobile phone use. Have calls directed to voice mail. Or why not let a passenger answer a call for you. If it’s urgent, pull over on the side of the road BEFORE taking a call or sending a reply.

 

Road Safety New Year Resolutions #2: Stay Away from Tailgating

About one-third of rear end collisions are a product of tailgating. This happens when you follow a vehicle too closely. This is dangerous for two main reasons: a) your proximity to the vehicle in front of you prevents you from seeing oncoming traffic and/or curvatures on the road and; b) you can’t guarantee that the driver of the other automobile can see you.

Those who typically tailgate are impatient drivers. They want to overtake the car or truck in front of them, so they tailgate until they see an opening. However, if the other driver suddenly stops or encounters an accident, the tailgater has little to no chance of reacting immediately. This could result in fatal injuries – or even death.

In 2017, resolve to be a more patient driver. Practice defensive driving and never assume that other people can quickly see you. If you happen to be following a big rig, keep in mind that it has plenty of blind spots. Keep away from them and maintain a distance of at least two cars apart.

 

Road Safety New Year Resolutions #3: Steer Clear of Speeding

In 2015, about 19,000 people were killed in road accidents. Several of the causes included speeding, distracted driving, and driving under influence. Speed is critical on the road: too slow and you irk fellow drivers, too fast and you endanger yourself as well as your passengers. The key then, is to stick to the speed limit and tread carefully during bad weather.

If you’re in the habit of speeding when no one is looking, break that habit in 2017. Keep cool and be confident in your abilities. In accordance with road safety New Year resolution #2, be patient. If know you’ll need extra time, leave earlier than usual. That way, you don’t need to speed your way to fatalities.

 

Road Safety New Year Resolutions #4: Errors in Erratic Driving

This usually happens when someone drives under the influence (either alcohol or substance abuse). However, impatient or irresponsible drivers could also exhibit signs of erratic driving. This is typically characterized by inability to maintain position in right lane, sudden braking, speeding, and errors in judgment.

For drivers prone to erratic driving, make a strong resolve to be more responsible this 2017. Think about how your actions affect fellow drivers and your passengers.

If you believe you need further help regarding injuries during a trucking accident involving alcohol and/or substance abuse, please seek expert legal assistance immediately. Try not to deal with it alone.

 

Conclusion

These road safety New Year resolutions are just the beginning. Your next concern is following through.

If you’ve developed bad driving habits over the years (e.g. speeding or not indicating), it’s never too late to change. Think of it as a way of protecting yourself and the people you care about. Consistency is key. Stay disciplined and you’ll eventually see the difference it makes on your fellow drivers – and in avoiding truck accidents.

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