There are many different things to which truckers have to pay attention when they are driving. These have to be the priority. Everything else has to take second place while the trucker is operating the rig. A trucker who is distracted can cause crashes that might injure or kill people.
Several laws are on the books related to distractions in the cab of the trucks. For example, it is against the law for the operator of a commercial vehicle to use a handheld cellphone while driving. This includes surfing the internet, texting or talking.
When you look into the incidents that can arise with distracted trucking, the picture is bleak. A driver who is using a phone is six times more likely to be involved in an event that is classified as safety-critical than those who aren’t using the phone.
The Federal Motor Carrier Association (FMCA) does give truckers the option to use hands-free apps to make phone calls and send texts. This doesn’t means that these are fully safe. The trucker needs to ensure that he or she is still paying full attention to the road when they are communicating.
There is never a good excuse for truckers to put innocent lives at risk. When they do, there is good chance that someone is going to suffer badly. In the end, people who are injured in big rig crashes can opt to seek compensation for their damages. This might come from the insurance company, the trucking company, the trucker, any other party who is liable or a combination of more than one of these.
Source: Trucking Truth, “Distracted Driving For Truck Drivers: The Penalties And Risks,” Brett Aquila, accessed May 25, 2018