Only employees who have undergone training should drive commercial vehicles. When employers skimp on safe driving programs, the general public faces an increased risk. Many of the common reasons commercial vehicle crashes occur are preventable.
By taking steps to do this, companies can help to protect their profit margin and reduce the number of innocent people who suffer injuries in these crashes. Even drivers who aren’t part of the company can boost safety.
Public reporting
One way that companies can help to keep everyone on the road safe is to have vehicles marked with the company name and a phone number to call in complaints about driving. Having a number for people to refer to when they call so the person taking the call can know which vehicle is driving unsafely is also beneficial. This encourages the commercial driver to operate the car safely since they know that the general public can call in reports.
If you are on the road and see an unsafe commercial driver, try to get the information you need to make the report. You must ensure that you remain safe as you do this, and only call if you have hands-free calling or when you find a safe place to stop. If you have a passenger, they can snap a picture or jot down the information and contact the company for you.
Contact police
You also have the option of contacting the police department. This is appropriate if the driver is breaking the law or driving in a manner that is likely to lead to an accident. Of course, if you are in a wreck with a commercial driver, you must contact the police department. You may also need to ask for medics to come to the scene to evaluate you for injuries and provide care if you need it. Even when you contact the police, ensure you get the driver’s information and company information if you need it in the future.
Other motorists who share the roads with these vehicles must do their part to remain safe, but they can’t be held responsible when an employee driving for work doesn’t follow traffic laws. When an accident with a commercial vehicle occurs, the victims can choose to seek compensation for the damages they suffer. This can be considerable, primarily when catastrophic injuries are stemming from the wreck.
