By Nigel Hilton
If you like getting behind the wheel, then it’s obvious that a career in driving might be right for you. However, no matter what your job actually is – whether you’re a taxi service, truck driver, or delivery person – you have double the responsibility of an average office worker when the road is your office. Every time any driver gets behind the wheel, they are responsible for their own safety, and the safety of every other road user and pedestrian they encounter. If you drive for a living, you also have to take certain health and safety precautions to keep yourself safe at work. Here are just a few ways that having your office on the road means double the responsibility.
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Office calls
Usually when you’re expecting a phone call from a client or business partner you have no trouble taking that call when you’re at the office. But when the road is your office you are obligated to not answer your phone while driving. Texting, or talking on the phone while driving both cause distraction and impaired driving that can result in following too closely, not being able to brake on time or weaving into oncoming traffic. Nearly 1.3 million people die in road crashes each year in the United States, on average 3,287 deaths a day. If you are found responsible for causing a crash because you were texting and driving, you should expect to hear from a personal injury lawyer, or truck accident lawyers if you drive a truck for a living. Fortunately, technology has made it possible for you to conduct your business on the road without the hazardous distractions. With all the hands-free technology available, there is no reason for you to have your hands on the phone instead of the wheel.
Health risks
You might be mentally satisfied with an on-the-road lifestyle, but it will have a detrimental effect on your health if you don’t take any precautions. Long-haul drivers in particular spend long periods of time sitting, which can put them at risk of obesity, depression, high blood pressure, cardiovascular diseases, and even certain cancers. Most long-haul drivers also live on a diet of fast food and caffeine because it’s more convenient than trying to find healthy food options on the road. Fortunately, there are some healthy habits you can adopt so your job doesn’t put you at risk, such as snacking on fruits and vegetables, or going for short bursts of exercise every time you stop to refuel.
Training
If you’re planning on using a car or small van for your on-the-road job, then you’ll probably do just fine, but it takes extra training to drive a truck or a bus. The road safety rules, the licences, and even techniques for driving a bus or even driving a lorry will be very different to driving a basic car, so some jobs will ask that you get the correct licence before they hire you. If you’re lucky, the company might train you themselves.
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