Back

Night Driving

Jul. 26 2024 Safety By McCandless Idealease

Share

Welcome to the latest Idealease Safety Bulletin. Today, we delve into crucial information about safe driving practices, driver retention strategies, and recent updates in the trucking industry. Whether you're a professional driver, a fleet manager, or a dog owner who frequently travels with pets, this post is packed with valuable tips and updates to keep you informed and safe on the road. Let's dive in and explore the latest developments in transportation and safety. Read the full Safety Bulleting here 

In this issue:

  • What Makes Night Driving Difficult?
  • What Are You Doing to Retain the Good Drivers You Have Today?
  • Question of The Week!
  • Trucks With Dogs Returning From Outside US Need New Form.
  • CVSA’s Brake Safety Week Scheduled for Aug. 25-31
  • Registration Open for the 2024 Idealease/NPTC Safety Seminars!

Even though most people drive during the day, it's essential to know that more accidents happen at night, and the most serious ones occur after dark. People who drive for a living know it takes a lot of skill to drive safely at night. When it's raining, the risk of accidents goes up even more. The riskiest time to be on the road is between midnight and 6 a.m. even though there are fewer cars out, there are more accidents at this time than at any other time of the day. Many professional drivers have routes that start or end when it's dark outside. So, being prepared, staying focused, and using good judgment when driving at night is crucial!


What Makes Night Driving Difficult?

Remember these points when driving at night:

  • It's harder to see due to poor natural light.
  • You might feel sleepier at night.
  • Quiet roads can make you feel drowsy.
  • The road lighting might be inadequate or confusing, especially in rural or urban areas.
  • Many people drink at night, which can affect their driving.
  • Bright lights from oncoming vehicles can be distracting and cause accidents.
  • Night driving can be incredibly challenging for those with visual impairments or night blindness.


Tips for Safe Driving at Night.

Please remember the following tips for driving at night:

1. Be cautious of fatigued or impaired drivers, especially late in the evening and early in the morning.

2. Reduce your speed, maintain a safe distance, and be prepared to stop for erratic drivers.

3. Ensure your headlights are properly aimed and clean for better visibility.

4. Use high beams wisely, and don't look directly at oncoming headlights.

5. If you're tired, pull over and rest – caffeine and loud music are not substitutes for sleep.

6. Night driving glasses do not improve visual performance and may impair your vision.


What Are You Doing to Retain the Good Drivers That You Have Today?

The following are some considerations to ensure driver retention:

1. Review company policies and procedures to ensure honesty with drivers. Ensure that policies are clear and achievable, as dishonesty is a significant reason drivers leave a company.

2. Recognize drivers as valuable assets and involve them in company operations. Engage drivers in equipment selection, accident review committees, and policy and procedure issues.

3. Review and ensure competitive pay and benefit programs.

4. Maintain vehicles systematically to ensure safe operations.

5. Providing ongoing training has proven to reduce driver turnover.

6. Adhere to high driver hiring and selection standards.

7. Provide comprehensive new driver orientation training to ensure they fully understand company policies and procedures.

8. Recognize drivers' achievements and performance, such as safe driving and customer service.


Question of the Week!

I got a warning letter from the FMCSA regarding my CSA SMS scores... What do I do? 

Receiving a warning letter is an opportunity to improve your driving and safety practices without needing the government to step in. Take the time to read the letter, as it points out your company's specific safety problems based on data. It also explains how to look at your safety record and what will happen if your company's safety and compliance stay the same.


What happens next? 


You don't have to reply directly to the letter. The FMCSA will monitor how safely you operate and follow the rules through its Safety Measurement System (SMS) at http://ai.fmcsa.dot.gov/sms/.

As a trucking company, it's also important for you to regularly check your SMS data. If your safety record and compliance don't improve, the FMCSA might take further action, which could result in fines or your company's inability to operate. These actions may include Offsite or Onsite Investigations.


Trucks With Dogs Returning From Outside US Need New Form

If you're driving with your dog to Mexico or Canada and planning to return to the US, you'll have to prove that your pet is rabies-free starting August 1st. Truck drivers who frequently travel with their dogs between the US, Canada, or Mexico must fill out a special form to confirm that their pets are at low risk of carrying rabies. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is making these changes as part of a new rule to prevent rabies from spreading. In addition, all dogs entering the US after August 1st must have a microchip and be over six months old.


CVSA's Brake Safety Week is Scheduled for Aug. 25-31.

The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) Brake Safety Week

will occur August 25-31. Officials will inspect commercial trucks and drivers to ensure their brakes are in good working order. It's all about promoting brake safety awareness and ensuring trucks follow the rules.


Inspection and Enforcement

CVSA-certified inspectors will conduct routine commercial motor vehicle inspections throughout the week, focusing on brake systems and components. Commercial motor vehicles with brake-related out-of-service violations will be removed from roadways until corrected.

For this year's Brake Safety Week, inspectors will focus on the condition of brake linings and pads. Brake lining and pad issues may result in vehicle violations and affect a motor carrier's safety rating.

In addition, some jurisdictions have performance-based brake testers (PBBT) and will be using them during Brake Safety Week. A PBBT is a machine that assesses the braking performance of a vehicle.