Safety First: Holiday Driving Tips for Truck & Delivery Drivers

The holiday season is in full swing. As we all know, many people were unable to visit their families last year due to the pandemic. However, this is not the case this year. In fact, AAA is estimating that more than 100 million people will travel on the roads this holiday season. That is a 27.6% increase from last year. For truck drivers and delivery drivers, this means the roads will be much more crowded while they are out helping Santa transport packages across the country. Drivers, your safety on the roads is very important to us at Lee-Smith. While you are out and about delivering joy over the next few weeks, here are some important tips to keep in mind. 

Distracted Driving is Dangerous Driving

Always keep your eyes on the road. This is important at all times but is especially crucial when driving on busy roads. During the holiday season, it can be easy to get distracted by the large number of other drivers on the road and by holiday lights and displays. However, distracted driving kills. In 2019, over 3,140 people lost their lives as a result of distracted driving according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHSTA). Don’t get distracted by technology like cell phones, GPS, and dispatch devices while behind the wheel either. Every time you send or read a text message while driving, the NHSTA says you take your eyes off the road for 5 seconds. That may not seem like a long period of time, but when you’re traveling at 55 miles per hour, that is like driving the length of a football field without ever looking up. A lot can happen over that short period of time. Please keep your eyes on the road and make sure to take breaks so you can have a few minutes to relax and check your devices.

Defensive Driving is Key

You can stop yourself from driving distracted, but unfortunately, you can’t stop others. Keep a safe distance between your truck or delivery vehicle and other drivers. This is extremely important if you are in areas where there is snow or ice on the roads. Also, it’s your job to watch out for distracted drivers by practicing defensive driving. Over the holiday season, there will be people on the roads who have had a little too much of Grandma’s spiked eggnog. Watch for those individuals. Road rage will also be an issue due to impatient drivers and the stress of the season. Do your best to keep a distance from these drivers, and when you are making decisions, anticipate what those dangerous drivers will do. 

Take Care of Yourself

By law, truck drivers can only be on the roads for 11 hours over a 24 hour period. This is to help reduce distracted driving due to exhaustion. Please use your non-driving hours to take care of yourselves. Make sure you get plenty of sleep so that you will be awake and alert when you get back on the road. Also, take time to check in with your loved ones. Your mental health matters, and we know being away over the holidays can take a toll. Make sure to eat a solid meal too. Self-care is essential to doing your job well.

Keep Track of Fuel Levels

Don’t let your fuel tank get low in the colder winter months. Keeping your fuel tank topped off is beneficial in several ways. For one thing, it adds weight to your tires giving you better traction. It also saves you from the nightmare of having water built up in your fuel lines. You don’t want your truck to not turn on, stall, or experience other engine troubles due to the presence of water in the fuel tank. (Source)

Don’t Speed

We know traffic congestion can put you behind schedule, but do not speed. Like distracted driving, speed kills. In 2019, the NHSTA said 5,005 people were killed in crashes involving large trucks and 159,000 others were injured. Not all of these crashes were a result of speeding, but it most likely played a factor in a number of these fatal crashes. We want ALL drivers on the road to safely make it home to their families this holiday season. 

Turn On Your Headlights

They say “seeing is believing,” so turn on your headlights so you can see everything in front of you while you help Santa make his deliveries. Your headlights will help you watch for animals like deer that enjoy roaming the roads this time of year. Make sure to check your headlights regularly to ensure they are working properly. Clean off any snow or dirt that has built up on them as well. 

Call Lee-Smith

If you notice your truck or delivery vehicle is acting up, then give us a call at (423) 781-6858. Our service team will be happy to help. Learn more about our service department by clicking here. 

Thank you, truck and delivery drivers, for all of your hard work this year. You all have kept our country going, and we truly appreciate you. Please drive safely out there this holiday season. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from all of us at Lee-Smith, Inc.!