Safety: Come Ahead on Back

“Come ahead on back,” “Go ahead and back up,” or “Turn left right here.” How would you respond to such directions?

Truck drivers often have to deal with similarly unclear instructions when working with a direction-challenged traffic director. But it could be—and often is—worse. Very often, truck drivers—especially those working in crowded, busy or poorly lit conditions—must often maneuver their vehicles without the support of any, albeit confusing, traffic direction.

As a result of having to operate on their own, independent of outside support, good drivers learn to carefully read the area on the way in and then rely on a wide variety of mirrors to help them safely back out.

Even so, mirrors can at best provide only a limited view of what’s behind the truck. There are still blind spots. Can you imagine driving down the road with a cardboard box on your dashboard blocking most of your forward vision? No way, that would be crazy. But when backing, that is essentially how it’s done.

It’s no wonder that on a per mile basis, backing poses a much higher risk than moving forward. A newsletter published by the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) in 2001 notes that “backing accidents represent a significant percentage (generally 25–30%) of all preventable vehicle accidents within Caltrans.”

In some cases, such warning devices as backup alarms and warning lights can and do prevent backing accidents, provided, of course, that whatever is behind the truck hears or sees the alarm and is able to get out of the way.

But a greater percentage of backing accidents would be avoided if the driver were able to sense an obstacle or even see what’s behind the truck. Again, most drivers are very skilled at reading their mirrors and being able to avoid obstacles that can be seen—the main problem is related to things that can’t be seen.

There are many ways to reduce backing accidents, including driver training, ultrasonic backup warning devices, various types of mirrors, even video cameras. As Don Nama of Intec Video at Laguna Hills, CA, points out, none of these devices is meant to replace the basic side-mounted rear-view mirrors or an attentive driver—two things that are absolutely vital. Depending on the application, though, additional warning devices, sensors, or rear-view cameras can greatly improve safety.

An experienced driver may, according to the situation, choose a combination of these methods to provide the most effective overall system. For example, installing a rear-view camera system can help a driver see while backing. Yet no driver would rely solely on the monitor, but would allow his focus to cycle through various locations including all mirrors, the camera monitor, and even toward the side and front of the truck. In the midst of this watchful shifting, something could be missed.

To help fill in those gaps, a sensor that’s able to detect stationary and moving objects behind the truck, like those offered by Preco Electronics, would immediately provide early warning to the driver. It’s almost like having a traffic director holler “Stop.” You may not know immediately why, but you know something is in the way. In many cases, that’s all it takes to prevent an accident.

According to Mark Regan, national sales manager for Preco Electronics, use of the Preco Dual Sensor PreView system has resulted in a reduction of backing accidents by as much as 71% with some of the company’s large-fleet customers.

If you drive a truck or are responsible for those who do, take note. As manufacturers develop more safety devices for trucks, and as others begin to utilize them, the bar is raised. And as our industry’s standard increases, your opportunity (and responsibility) to keep up does, too.

Don’t risk having an accident that could be prevented with off-the-shelf safety devices. Attend a regional or national waste convention, contact your truck manufacturer or get online. But in either case, get on the stick and find out how to keep your drivers working safely.