We just read an article about the potential problems of people texting while driving their car. This week we take the discussion a step further and look at truckers’ activities while driving. Go to the link below and read the article. Write a reflective comment that shows you have read the article, expresses your views, and addresses my questions.
What uses of technology by truckers do you think is justified? What impact would the banning of using computers in the truckers’ cabs have on safety and on their income? Respond to the following quotation: “The study found that truckers using on-board computers take their eyes off the road for an average of four seconds, enough time at highway speeds to cover roughly the length of a football field.” How do you feel about Mr. Long’s explanation for not pulling over to read messages? Look at the multimedia graphic about understanding why truckers crash. What is most interesting or surprising in the graphic? If you were writing a federal bill to control the use of technology while driving, what would you include in the bill?
9 comments:
I think that the use of these so called computers in such trucks are justified. The impact that the banning of using computers in the truckers' cab, will probably have a neutral effect because maybe a hurricane is rolling into the area and since the driver cannot receive any notice of that his personal safety of himself and the truck has decreased. The impact on the income will, in my opinion, have a negative effect because the truckers do not waste anytime by using them, and if their destination changed the drivers would have no way of finding out and they would become late, in result, decreasing their income. I feel that this quotation is heavily exaggerated because if you are looking at the computer screen you also are looking in front of you, not consciously but you are sometimes able to make out what is in front of you. In my opinion, the risk of texting on a cellphone comes very surprising to me because if you are an experienced driver, like I'm sure all truck drivers are, you are able to drive with your thighs while texting and looking down at your cellphone for one second. I would include the ban of cellphones and other devices that pose a greater risk and are not absolutely vital. I would not include the banning of these computers, however.
I think that it is justified, to an extent, because drivers are on a time limit to get to their destination. I do agree that road safety would improve with the banning of the computers but the income of the truck drivers might decrease if there are repercussions for late deliveries. The quote really shows the danger of increasing technology that can cause distractions in vehicles. I do understand that truck drivers need the money and so however dangerous it is, I do understand why the truck drivers don’t pull over. The statistic about writing in a bad or notebook is surprising because I personally can’t comprehend what they would write while driving… If I were to write a bill for the use of technology while driving, the most important feature I would ban would be the use of cell phones, unless they were hooked up to a wireless headset.
I would jump so far as to justify the use of all technology, because in essence what is really necessary to have in the cab of a truck? A cellphone I believe is vital because it can be your lifeline for help if something were to happen. A laptop computer can be left at home, unless you only brought it out to play music or use when NOT driving. The computers installed in the cabs are useful because they aid the driver and notify when routes have changed or deadlines moved- memos from the company. The cell phone and company computer are justifiable because they actually are vital to a driver's job and maybe their well-being.
Banning the computer, like the others have said, would only decrease income because driver's would have to spend time using a map or asking for directions at the side of the road; or even worse: reading a map while driving, to me that seems more dangerous that glancing at two sentences written on a screen that is in your line of sight anyway. SO, these drivers would have to pull over and waste company time, which in the end, they pay for by it being deducted from their salaries. And to be honest, I doubt these guys are getting paid much.
I could believe the quote, a truck is probably going 50 to 70 mph, maybe even faster in more rural locations where speed limit is less enforced. It's kind of a cool fact that it only takes four seconds- imagine if people could do that! Anyway, but I think the quote stands on its own as an effect. Because it makes you wonder, if it takes only four seconds for the truck to travel that distance then how long would it take it to come to a complete stop? Probably three or four times as long. 12 or 16 seconds. That's a pretty long time.
The photo is surprising, and goes along with Mr. Long's comment. At least in his cab, I think he should be pulling over just because he keeps two dogs, one usually in his lap, with him at all times. I understand it's to keep him company, and I would probably have my dog with me, but I wouldn't be able to drive that way. It's not THAT easy to drive with a dog in your lap, especially when they are jumping and moving around, whining, etc. Another thing... he's not wearing his seatbelt. He's probably not driving, but they should have at least made it look like he was.
Writing a federal bill isn't a piece of cake and I understand why it takes Congress and the President so long to decide. But I would definitely make it clear that CERTAIN electronics should be banned, or at least certain uses (like texting) should be banned unless the truck is at a complete stop. There are rest stops and trucker stops for a reason. I would also use computers that were only allowed to be accessed when going lower than a certain speed limit- say 30mph, where the stopping time is much lower and more general control is kept. But I'm sure in writing a bill it's only going to have loopholes, missing pieces, and a lot of backfire in the trucking community.
I believe that the use of portable computer devices on the highway is unjustified. The fact that the driver is about to do something that is other than driving puts other driver's lives at risk making it an iresponsible and unpredictable thing to do. Even if it is a short period of time such as 4 seconds, that 4 seconds can be the point that decides a safe ride to the drivers destination and a 12 car pile up killing dozens of people. Simply because they are reading a memo from HQ or browsing the internet should not be a justifiable reason to be taking ones eyes off the road.Even though studies have shown that there is a decreased percentage of accidents than using the cellphone while driving 10 times more likely to be crashing into another driver is not something that should be overlooked so easily.
I think use of trucker PCs is justified only if used for GPSs & contact to other people.
Banning in-car technology will most likely be leading to loss of track,unindentifiable accidents & slow drop on income.
To constantly pull over & read is to delay the trucker & waste his time & gas pulling over constantly.
What seemed to be predictable was that texting while driving beats all at chances of crashing, yet what wasn't predictable was the times that were higher than devices used in car;
Text>device.
I would only include in my bill, that "all who drive may only stare at a screen attached for no more than 5 seconds", because nothing else is to be bothered about but that.
I think the audio-based technology the article mentioned is the only type that is justifiable. Typing and reading messages is not at all acceptable in my opinion. These trucks could do massive damage because of their size, weight, and possibly contents.
Without these distractions, the drivers would be MUCH safer and less prone to multitask while driving. As far as income goes, the drivers could possibly make more money because they would make their deliveries more quickly (typing/reading/whatever else this technology requires them to do would not slow them down).
In response to the quotation, that statistic/factoid is rather striking. A truck moving at that speed could do serious damage (probably fatal) to foundations/other vehicles if the driver was too distracted.
I think his explanation for not pulling over does little to justify drivers not doing so. Vehicles and lives, more importantly, are worth much more than what the company would lose through drivers pulling over.
The fact that 3.1% of accidents would not occur if no distractions were present is pretty significant, in my opinion. That statistic could equate to thousands of lives being saved from death by accident.
I would make text based technology illegal to use in ALL vehicles. Phone calls and other audio based things would be fine to use in any vehicle, but the text based things in this article and texting would be prohibited.
Instead of using the small portable computers, I would use GPS navigation machine. In Korea now, the technology has been developed quite well, everyone uses the GPS navigation machine. I think it is better than the portable computers, and it is very easy to find the place and drive there. My dad uses the GPS navigation machine in Korea. When we go some places, we get to type in the place and then the navigation machine will tell you where to go and which road to use for the shortcuts. GPS navigation services are very easy and good to use.
I think that the use of computers in trucks are justified. I think this because these truck drivers need to get to a destination at a particular time. If I had to ban them I would say that it would say that it could prevent them from knowing when something bad like a storm is coming. I personally think that taking your eyes off the road isn't smart. It's just like texting, except for a shorter amount of time. I think that NOT pulling over can be dangerous because your mind will be on what the message is saying and not what's going on on the road. I though the texting graph made me surprised. I mean a lot of people text while driving. I would banning texting while driving and pulling over to read a message if it's necessary, but I would not ban the computers.
I think that the use of computers in the trucks is justified. By banning the use of computers the truckers will not be able to receive notice of road construction and traffic. This will then slow down delivery time and the company will loose money. This quote I feel is very exaggerated because when a large truck is driving down a highway it goes much slower than the average car. Also the drivers use their peripheral vision while looking at the computer allowing them to respond to road issues. I think Mr. Long's explanation for not pulling over is valid. I think the most surprising thing in the graphic was that the truckers use maps if they already have computers. I would disallow the use of texting while driving in the federal bill.
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