Thanksgiving isn’t here yet, but the holiday shopping season has already moved into full gear. Roughly 75% of consumers start shopping online fairly early. By the time November rolls around, deliveries of online orders are already ramping up.
That means that you’re going to see a lot more delivery vans from Amazon, UPS, FedEx and others out there — and you need to be cautious. Whether you’re driving in a car or a pedestrian just trying to walk your dog around the neighborhood, delivery trucks often pose special dangers.
Why are delivery trucks such a problem at this time of the year? Some of the following reasons come into play:
- They’re under immense pressure to make deliveries on time. Companies make promises about shipping times that delivery drivers have to keep. Amazon, for example, has made two-day delivery times virtually standard for many items. There have been numerous reports of drivers who say that they can’t even take a bathroom break because of their tight schedules.
- Delivery drivers may be distracted by their guidance systems. Delivery trucks typically come equipped with a global positioning system (GPS) that they have to follow to find addresses. Plus, many are in regular contact with dispatchers through radios or other methods. Both of those things can divert a driver’s attention from the road.
- They’re often on unfamiliar streets. Some delivery drivers know their routes really well, but there are often a lot of new drivers on the road during the holiday season. Others may be covering another driver’s shift in unfamiliar territory. Their inexperience with the roads can leave them prone to mistakes.
It pays to be conscious of the evolving dangers on the road, but you can only do so much to protect yourself. If you’re injured in an accident with a delivery van, find out what it takes to get fair compensation for your losses.
