Latest news with #MarkSchedler
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
How to take decisive action against distracted driving
In 2022, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported 3,308 fatalities in crashes involving distracted drivers, accounting for roughly 9% of all fatal collisions on U.S. roads. For commercial truck drivers, the risks are even more pronounced. A Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration study found that truckers who text while driving are a staggering 23.2 times more likely to be involved in an accident than their nondistracted counterparts. To put the danger of distracted driving into perspective, consider this: At 60 miles per hour, a driver who glances at the phone to read a text for just seven seconds will travel more than 600 feet – or over two football fields – without looking up. Even very brief distractions, like reading a billboard for 1.5 seconds, can result in traveling over 130 feet without paying full attention to the road. April is recognized as Distracted Driving Awareness Month, acting as a reminder to all motorists – including truckers – to make safe choices on the road. Despite ongoing education efforts, distracted driving remains a leading cause of injury and fatality crashes on America's highways. Distracted driving encompasses any activity that diverts a driver's attention from the critical task of safe vehicle operation. This includes the obvious culprits like texting or talking on a phone – even in hands-free mode – but also extends to seemingly innocuous actions such as eating, drinking, conversing with passengers, adjusting vehicle controls or even daydreaming. 'In my past career as a fleet professional, I lost one driver, a father of two and husband, to a completely avoidable fatigued/distracted crash. That was one too many. Dash cameras, if available at the time, could have kept that great driver alive,' said J. J. Keller Senior Transport Management Editor Mark Schedler. The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) found that drivers convicted of reckless or inattentive driving have a 62% greater chance of being involved in a Department of Transportation-reportable accident. The consequences of such behavior extend beyond immediate safety concerns. The legal ramifications are significant, with fines of up to $2,750 for drivers and $11,000 for carriers who violate the federal ban on hand-held electronic device use for commercial drivers. Understanding the nature of distraction is crucial to addressing the issue effectively. Distracted driving encompasses three categories: visual (taking eyes off the road), manual (removing hands from the wheel) and cognitive (mind not focused on driving). Using a mobile device while driving involves all three types of distraction, making it particularly dangerous. Two forms of cognitive distraction – inattention blindness and highway hypnosis – can render drivers unable to perceive hazards even when their eyes are on the road. Factors such as overconfidence, extended periods of driving without breaks, night driving and even a warm cab can contribute to these dangerous mental states. The stakes are high, and the time has come for trucking companies to move beyond simple awareness of these risks and begin taking concrete action to reduce distracted driving in their fleets. Implementing a comprehensive safety policy is essential. These policies should cover pre-trip preparations, communication protocols and the use of camera-driven coaching systems. AI-powered cameras – like those offered by J. J. Keller – identify a range of unsafe behaviors, from unintended lane departures to hand-held cellphone use. Early detection enables timely intervention and corrective action. 'Company safety slogans are hollow promises, unless backed by detecting and correcting all unsafe behavior,' added Schedler. 'Leaders must show by their actions every day that safety is a value, not a situational priority.' A road- and driver-facing camera can detect events requiring corrective action, including: Unintended lane departures Hard-brake events Following too close Hand-held cellphone use Adjusting the radio Excessive drowsiness Eyes off the roadway Encouraging regular breaks and providing tips to maintain concentration are also vital strategies. Simple actions like keeping the cab cool, engaging in mental activities and maintaining proper posture can help drivers stay alert and focused on the task at hand. Carrier personnel should only call drivers when they know the driver's vehicle is safely parked. It takes all the driver's attention to operate a commercial vehicle. In order to achieve this, companies should have a nondistracting method to let drivers know to call the office, such as an alert to an in-cab device that indicates a need for communication. Ultimately, creating a culture of safety is paramount. 'A carrier's culture must make distracted and fatigued driving unacceptable,' according to Schedler. 'Regardless of how urgent the perceived need is, don't put lives at risk. When I dispatched drivers, I coached them as if my family were in the car next to my drivers.' With the technology and knowledge available today, there's no excuse for not taking decisive action against distracted driving. Camera-driven coaching systems offer a powerful tool to detect, correct and ultimately prevent dangerous behaviors behind the wheel. Distracted Driving Awareness Month should act as a call to action for carriers across the nation. By prioritizing safety through comprehensive policies, advanced technology and a culture of accountability, the trucking industry can work toward a future where preventable tragedies become a thing of the past. The lives of drivers and the motoring public depend on it. Click here to learn about J. J. Keller's VideoProtects Fleet Camera System. The post How to take decisive action against distracted driving appeared first on FreightWaves.
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Ongoing MVR monitoring could help carriers avoid big risks
Trucking can be a risky business. A carrier's profitability depends largely on the state of the wider economic market, which can be impacted by everything from natural disasters to legislation changes. There are steps trucking companies can take to safeguard their operations despite outside unpredictability, however. For example, carriers can create a regular practice of reviewing their drivers' driver motor vehicle records (MVR) in order to flag any issues early and sidestep potential pitfalls in the future. Outside of pre-hire background checks, carriers are only federally mandated to review these MVRs once a year. Doing the bare minimum, however, creates an environment that makes it easy for issues to fall through the cracks. The consequences of this can range from costly fines to financially devastating litigation. 'Every day that a disqualified driver operates a CMV is like waiting for a bomb to explode. If the driver is in a crash, the carrier will pay regardless of whether they were at fault. The driver shouldn't have been there,' according to J. J. Keller Sr. Transport Management Editor, Mark Schedler. It is important to note that the American Transportation Research Institute's (ATRI) 2022 update of the Crash Predictor study establishes the increased risk of DOT accidents if MVR violations are left unaddressed. Some of these most risky events are, unfortunately, also on 2024's top roadside driver violations. The riskiest violations include: A Failure to Yield Right-of-Way violation (141 percent risk increase) A Failure to Use / Improper Signal conviction (116 percent risk increase) A past crash (113 percent risk increase) A Reckless Driving violation (104 percent risk increase) A Failure to Obey Traffic Sign conviction (85 percent risk increase) When drivers with existing unaddressed violations or disqualifications make these driving errors and are involved in an accident, the carrier can be held liable based on a negligent supervision claim. This all but guarantees a tough day in court. 'Reacting to driver violations when they show up on the annual MVR and delaying the correction of unsafe behavior almost guarantees an excessive verdict due to negligent supervision if those drivers are in a crash,' said Schedler. More frequent MVR checks allow carriers to identify and address driver violations or license status changes much sooner. This enables quicker intervention and remediation before issues escalate. Additionally, many insurers offer discounts to carriers who conduct more frequent MVR monitoring. Monitoring gives carriers an improved risk profile and signals a proactive safety stance that can translate to lower premiums. Companies can proactively monitor MVRs more frequently on their own using a third-party system, such as J. J. Keller's Encompass® Fleet Safety & Compliance System, which makes the process easier and often more reliable. 'Two things are usually true in trucking: Bad things happen in the 365 days between MVR checks, and drivers don't always report those bad things (warnings, violations and suspensions) when required,' Schedler added. 'Avoid the increased risk and potential liability of pulling MVRs once per year and reap the benefits from using an expert third party ongoing monitoring service.' Carriers can access a plethora of benefits by relying on a system like J. J. Keller's Encompass: Timely notification of changes to MVRs like expired CDL medical certifications, administrative suspensions due to failure to pay child support and loss of driving privileges due to exceeding licensing agency point totals Improve driver retention by delivering coaching and other remedial actions in a timely manner so they never reach the point where termination is the only option Promote safer driving behaviors by identifying and mitigating potential risks promptly, reducing the likelihood of accidents. Protect Unsafe Driving BASIC scores by helping carriers to remove unsafe drivers from the road fast. Automate the process of tracking and managing driver records, saving time and resources. As technology continues to evolve, the trend towards more frequent driver monitoring is likely to accelerate. Forward-thinking carriers that embrace these tools and practices now will be well-positioned to build safer, more efficient fleets in the years to come. The future of fleet safety isn't just about reacting to incidents, it's about predicting and preventing them. More frequent MVR monitoring is a key step towards that proactive approach. By moving beyond the minimum annual MVR check requirement, carriers can create a culture of continuous improvement, reduce their risk exposure and save lives on the road. The initial investment in more frequent monitoring pays dividends in enhanced safety, compliance and operational efficiency. The post Ongoing MVR monitoring could help carriers avoid big risks appeared first on FreightWaves.
