Truck Drivers Engaging In Dangerous Activities
Many truck drivers on the roads of Georgia and other states engage in dangerous activities many times a day. Hundreds of thousands of long-haul truckers use computers in their cabs to get directions and stay in close contact with dispatchers. While they are supposed to only use these devices while stationary, many truckers admit that almost nobody does.
The trucking industry supports use of the devices since they save time for the truckers and help loads arrive faster. The industry contends the devices can be used safely, posing less of a distraction than portable devices such as cell phones, and therefore should be exempted from legislation that would ban texting while driving.
There is currently pending in Congress a bill that would force states to ban texting while driving if they want to keep receiving federal highway money. The legislation will be discussed at a conference on distracted driving in Washington, starting tomorrow, organized by the Transportation Department.
The American Trucking Association has taken the position that while the industry does not condone texting while driving, the computers used by truckers require less concentration than phones. They contend that banning the use of such devices while driving will not improve safety.
Safety advocates and researchers say the computers present precisely the same risk as other devices, such as Blackberries and Iphones. And, they point out the risk may be even greater because of the size of 18-wheel tractor trailers and the longer time required for them to stop.
Some truckers say they feel pressure to use their computers even while driving in order to meet tight delivery schedules.
After videotaping truckers behind the wheel, the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute found that those who used on-board computers faced a 10 times greater risk of crashing, nearly crashing or wandering from their lane than truckers who did not use those devices.
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.
