Driving a massive commercial vehicle needs the utmost attention. Any form of emotion like aggression, anger, or distraction is crucially unaccepted while operating such vehicles.

To become a commercial truck driver, you must pass the testing and certification process. Therefore, it’s not easy for anyone to decide to become an HGV driver.

This article will help identify Bad Driving Habits that are always responsible for causing unfortunate accidents while behind the wheel.

Statistics on fleet accidents in the UK

In 2020, there were 4,842 fatalities caused by large truck accidents, involving 64% of which were combination trucks.

Additionally, there are approximately 130,000 people that suffer injuries every year, such as brain trauma, spinal cord injuries, neck injuries, whiplash and many more.

Addressing the fact a third of the severe injuries were caused by road accidents in the UK. Why does this happen? Due to extended driver hours, most fleet accidents could be caused by work-related stress.

If you ever encounter a road accident, here’s how you should report it regardless of its severity. FleetSpeak strongly encourages drivers to take a hazard perception test by DVLA to avoid encountering unfortunate situations.

Top 7 bad driving habits of fleet drivers in the UK

Unsafely changing lanes

Changing lanes is always dangerous when operating a large commercial vehicle. Semi-trucks have wide blind spots that obscure passenger vehicles from their view. There’s a higher chance of an unfortunate accident if the driver changes the lane without checking their blind spot vigilantly.

Lane hopping is considered a very bad driving habit involving a quick weaving in & out of lanes to skip the traffic buildup easily. Truck drivers with a habit of lane hopping are likelier to get involved in truck accidents.

Not checking blind spots.

Ensuring the blind spots multiple times before merging or switching lanes overall is an excellent way to avoid an accident. Especially in truck accidents, it’s absolutely essential to ensure you’re not driving in a blind spot.

Therefore, not checking blind spots on the road can lead to a serious truck accident in a blink of an eye.

Using a mobile phone while driving

Using a mobile phone while driving is absolutely not a good idea in any circumstances. While it’s hazardous to do so in a passenger vehicle, it’s far more dangerous to use while operating a large commercial vehicle that weighs around 30% more than an average fleet.

It’s essential to understand the new laws that came into action for using a mobile phone while driving.

Using a mobile phone for any situation behind the wheel is enough to cause accidental destruction. Including:

• Turning on the screen
• Checking time
• Checking notifications
• Unlocking the phone
• Making, receiving, or rejecting any calls.
• Sending, receiving or uploading any text, media or oral content.
• Utilising any camera, video or sound recording.
• Drafting any text msg or content.
• Accessing any stored data of any format.
• Opening an app.
• Accessing the internet.

Distracted driving

Using a mobile phone is just a pint of what comes under distracted driving. Activities such as texting, talking, and eating habits that are difficult to kick off are overall the most responsible drivers for distracted driving.

Taking away the concentration with all your senses will not only call a lousy driving habit but also could, unfortunately, kill someone.

Here are some essential tips to avoid distracted driving habits on the roads.

Driving through bad weather

You must prepare for sudden road changes if you operate in bad weather conditions like snow or rain. There are some severe downfalls to driving in bad weather, so it’s suggested to understand the essential guide to driving in harsh weather like ice and rain.

Whether it’s about using snow tyres or learning how to slow down properly on the black ice, preparing yourself for these unexpected weather conditions can save you from a bad accident.

Truck drivers must be equipped to handle these harsh weather conditions. If not, their employer could be responsible for not providing a proper assessment.

Must read: Top 10 essential items to keep in your HGV.

Drowsy driving

Drowsy driving can be ordinary when drivers are overscheduled or overworked. With the extended driver hours in action, finding proper sleep between shifts can be challenging.

Overscheduling a driver to the extent of exhaustion or fatigue can become a significant cause of an accident, causing the company to take full responsibility.

Poorly loaded cargo

Cargo must be secured appropriately to prioritise the driver’s safety and an effortless drive throughout the route. If an HGV is overloaded or, worst, loaded poorly, a loading team is responsible for any unfortunate accident that causes throughout the way.

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