How new technology is improving truck safety

Truck drivers and fleet owners in South Carolina should know about the benefits of advanced safety features like automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning systems and backup alarms. Some argue that while driverless technology may be making headlines, these more modest features are causing a quiet revolution by reducing the number of crashes, especially rear-end collisions.

Adaptive cruise control, which can adjust the driver’s speed with the rest of the traffic flow, and stationary object detection are other examples of effective collision mitigation technology. Entertainment technology like Bluetooth connectivity, satellite radio and Apple Car Play integration are also helping by allowing drivers to focus on the road.

Video-monitoring technology can act as a deterrent because safety professionals can check the footage afterwards to spot unsafe behaviors. The onboard cameras normally turn on when a risk event occurs. Employers should, of course, integrate this footage into their more traditional training and coaching sessions rather than use it as a way to punish bad driving.

Lytx states that companies that adopt its Drive Cam technology can expect to see a 25 percent reduction in accidents after the first year. That percentage could jump to 50 percent if best practices and follow-up coaching are implemented. Generally, truck-related deaths are declining: There were about 5,300 deaths from 1988 to 1989, but since 2009, that number has typically been below 4,000 annually.

Sometimes, though, safety technology can lull truckers into a false sense of security, making them negligent behind the wheel. If negligence is behind a crash, the victim may be able to file a claim under truck accident law. A lawyer might hire investigators and medical experts to build up the case. The lawyer may then be able to negotiate with the trucking company’s own legal team for a settlement, litigating if one cannot be agreed upon.