Aussie truck driving can be a seriously dangerous career. Long hours spent on long highways increases the risk of accidents, and it comes as little surprise that so many larger vehicles are involved in incidents on Aussie roads every year. Local and national governments put in a lot of work to combat the risk of incidents on our roads, but Australia still ranks quite poorly among advanced countries when it comes to road safety – trucks regularly contribute to this unwanted statistic.
As such, there are numerous things logistics companies and their drivers should do to enhance their operational safety. From extra appendages to driver awareness, here are some ways to improve driving in Aussies cities and out in the country:
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Install light bars
Top quality light bars for trucks are one of the most imperative ways for drivers to alert other motorists of their presence on the road. Many drivers operate at night, with deadlines keeping them on the roads into the wee hours of the morning. As such, they require top quality technology that will help ensure that they are highly visible on the road.
Light bars are one of the most essential technologies for producing this imperative visibility level. They can help fully alert other drivers to the trucky’s presence, ensuring that they know to stay well out of the vehicle’s way in an oncoming or passing situation.
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Be aware of the cargo load
Poorly loaded cargo is one of the greatest risks out on the winding highway. Why? Because shifting cargo can cause the trailer to fishtail or swerve, something which often leads to incredibly high-risk situations. As such, the driver must always be aware of how the cargo has been loaded, taking the time to check its status and that it is, of course, ready to be hauled over a long stretch of potentially winding road.
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Plan your route
The Aussie road can be full of sudden surprises that can make driving difficult for truckies. One ridiculous example of this is Melbourne’s Montague Street, which has been the bane of trucks (and buses) for many, many years, with higher vehicles finding themselves in a very gnarly situation in which they can’t avoid the bridge’s low-rise and, consequently, slam into the thing.
As such, a driver of any larger vehicle should always plan their route. There is no excuse for not being aware of any of the Aussie road’s surprises in the digital era – all the information is available right there in a driver’s smartphone. You can check for any surprises such as these as well as any sudden road changes when out on the highway!
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Never drive tired
It’s one of Australian logistics’ greatest tragedies when a terrible incident occurs due to driver fatigue. Unfortunately, drivers often feel a lot of pressure to deliver their cargo as soon as possible, and this can put them in some pretty unfortunate situations.
If you are ever feeling tired when out on the road please remember to take some time to rest – there is no need for dangerous fatigue driving in this day and age – we have learned time and time again just how outrageously dangerous this scenario can be, and we need to do our best to stamp it out of Australian logistics.
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Try to stay in the one lane
It’s a large vehicle – not an F1 car, and it simply can’t manoeuvre in the ways that even the dodgiest sedans can. So, do your best to stay in the one lane whilst driving – a long, smooth cruise is the safest way to avoid collisions with fellow motorists.