Here’s a talent that the trucking industry wants you to believe truckers possess: The ability to safely drive a big rig while working on a computer.
This would be hysterically funny — a real knee-slapper — if it weren’t for the fact that a trucker’s wipe out on the highway has the potential to kill many other people. If they only kill themselves, then, I’d say confer a posthumous (is there any other kind?) Darwin Award and move on. But, apparently, killing innocent others is a risk the trucking industry is willing to take.
These computer-using truckers pose little risk to bicyclists on the highways. Most of us avoid 4-lane roads with speeds in excess of 55 mph. But what happens when these guys are in town trying to make deliveries. Am I subject to a good squashing by a guy trying to Google directions to his next delivery?
Comments 11
Thanks for bringing that one to my attention. I always find it laughable when drivers attempt to say these distractions are no big deal. Yet most studies liken them to driving under the influence of alcohol. I don’t buy the inconvience argument. The potential for delay for a crash, fatality, and loss of trailer load would outweigh having to wait until a stop to use the internet.
You don’t have to look much further than that huge tractor trailer crash near Joplin for the destructive potential.
Posted 28 Sep 2009 at 8:53 am ¶Yea sure, lets just eliminate all the distractions. Take down billboards, ban cell phones, only put one seat in cars so there are no passengers to talk to drivers, take out the radio.
i mean why risk lives?
Posted 28 Sep 2009 at 10:05 am ¶So, truckers are using these things now? I’m not sure, but think I preferred being ignorant of that.
Posted 28 Sep 2009 at 10:48 am ¶007… I don’t think anyone is advocating for the impossible.
Posted 28 Sep 2009 at 10:57 am ¶@007 Why not just get rid of cars altogether? That’s an interesting point because that’s what this blog is somewhat about.
I’m much in favor of creating a legal liability for when an easily avoidable oversight puts the lives of other at risks. A two-ton dinosaur-blood fuled machine operator should keep his attention on the task at hand. Other’s personal freedom should not come at a risk to my life and vice versa.
Posted 28 Sep 2009 at 11:22 am ¶Most police cars have computers in their cars and the number of accidents caused by their use of them is well documented.
We already see examples of truckers rolling over cars at some of the lights on US31 between Holland and Grand Haven, MI. All you need to do is drive through these intersections and look at all the skid marks on the pavement to know more of these are tragedies are inevitable.
To “allow” or “encourage” the use of devices that would take significant time away from the actual activity that is needed to control a 65 foot behemoth is ludicrous.
I understand the need to move their freight efficiently but why can’t they pull over and stop to do it?
Posted 28 Sep 2009 at 11:54 am ¶A.J. Perhaps a finer point would be: This blog is partly about ignoring cars as transportation options much of the time
Posted 28 Sep 2009 at 12:29 pm ¶From A.J.: “Other’s personal freedom should not come at a risk to my life and vice versa.”
Hear, hear!
That being said, I wonder if an interface (both input and output) that functions exclusively by audio rather than video means might reduce the risk of accident. Can we eliminate all distractions? I don’t know, but maybe we can work better with something that is both hands and eyes free.
Otherwise, the prospect that the industry’s position might prevail is a frightening one.
Posted 28 Sep 2009 at 12:33 pm ¶I ride on 4 lanes quite a bit. I rode about 15 miles on the shoulder of US 63 on Saturday.
Someone in a diesel pickup truck, slowed down, took his truck out of gear and floored it as he went by. He gets his jollies by filling my lungs and eyes with black diesel exhaust I guess.
I ride a bike so I deserve to be treated as such. If only I were cool enough to sign up for a 50,000 truck loan like him…..if only.
Posted 28 Sep 2009 at 1:19 pm ¶What is really frightening is that I think I might prefer sharing the road with truckers on computers than with the typical Escalade driver. I think I need higher standards…
Posted 28 Sep 2009 at 6:58 pm ¶Ray LaHood says distracted drivers are “menace to society”.
http://apnews.myway.com//article/20090930/D9B1NL4G0.html
The guy that threw the full soda can and hit me last week was actually just multitasking I suppose!
Posted 30 Sep 2009 at 10:23 am ¶