Technology has advanced at an alarming rate in recent years. Now, the trucking industry is catching up and implementing safety features that can go a long way in preventing catastrophic truck accidents.
With new safe-driving features such as back-up cameras, rollover protections, lane departure warning systems, and many others features, truck drivers today have a much different experience than those who were driving ten years ago.
High tech troubles
There is still a danger inherent with these technological advances. Truck drivers, like many others out on the roads, may become too reliant on this safety technology. There’s less pressure to double-check a blind spot or take extra precautions while going around a curve. There’s a misunderstanding that all the safety functions now available will do the work for drivers.
Technology can fail and systems can malfunction. Above all, no technology can replace human consciousness. According to Trucks.com, some weather conditions, such as rain and fog, can cause lane departure warning sensors to malfunction, for instance.
Additionally, collision-avoidance features can fail to recognize stopped vehicles or other potential collision risks – causing a driver to collide with another vehicle or fixed structure.
Employers must hold their drivers accountable
There is the old saying, “use it or lose it.” That applies to the skill and experience it requires to operate a big rig. It is the responsibility of fleet managers and other employers to ensure that their drivers are not relying too heavily on technology. They must emphasize the importance of the drivers’ instincts and stress the dangers of complacency. Fleet managers must take the steps necessary to hold their drivers accountable.
An Albuquerque truck accident attorney at Szantho Law Firm has seen what happens when truck drivers aren't attentive to the road in front of them. Once a driver becomes complacent, once they allow their attention to stray from the road in front of them, they place themselves and everyone else around them in danger.
This is true for any motorist on the road, but especially true for those driving big rigs. If you were injured by a negligent truck driver, contact us today to schedule a free case evaluation.