The Law Offices of Chaikin and Sherman, P.C.
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GPS Systems
Washington, D.C.; Maryland, and Virginia
GPS (global positioning systems) have dramatically changed the way we navigate. Being able to precisely locate yourself independent of landmarks and familiarity with the area has reduced the time people spend lost and improved the efficiency of drivers everywhere. GPS can also be combined with monitoring systems to allowing trucking companies to pay closer attention to the behavior of their drivers. Modern tracking software allows trucking companies to be aware of everything from Hours of Service (HoS) violations to aggressive driving and seatbelt use. This technology allows detailed observation of drivers' behavior and gives trucking companies tools for identifying risky behaviors among its drivers. At this point, it is impossible for a trucking company to plead complete ignorance of its drivers' behaviors.
If you were hurt or lost a loved one in an accident with a commercial truck, the chances are that more than the driver is at fault. Contact the truck accident attorneys at Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata, & Siegel, P.C. to learn how we can hold all contributing parties responsible.
GPS Monitoring
GPS monitoring can track trucks and their cargo by constantly transmitting data about a truck, including its position and speed. This allows a trucking company to tell when its driver is on the road and when the driver is resting. Obviously, this means that a trucking company no longer has to rely on handwritten log books or take its drivers' word for whether they were complying with HoS regulations. A trucking company then has a responsibility to make sure its drivers are driving safely, not becoming fatigued from illegally-long shifts.
But the monitoring capability of GPS goes beyond simple HoS violations. When combined with inertial sensors and links to the truck's computer, GPS monitors can inform a trucking company of:
- Speeding
- Rapid acceleration
- Hard braking
- Sharp turning
- Seatbelt use
- Activation of safety equipment like ABS or airbags
Using this equipment, trucking companies can identify which of their drivers behave recklessly and have an increased risk of being involved in a dangerous truck accident. This can allow them to curb such dangerous behavior and prevent accidents before they happen.
Every Driver, All the Time?
Some may argue that the constant monitoring of truckers' behavior is an unreasonable expectation. Since trucking companies constantly track cargoes and trucks to control their own losses and increase profits, is it unreasonable to expect that trucking companies will monitor their drivers to keep you safe?
Even if a trucking company does not monitor every driver, it has a responsibility to monitor drivers with a record of dangerous driving or accidents. Truck drivers are like most professions: the majority are good, safe drivers. The identification of dangerous drivers and the correction of risky behaviors can dramatically increase the safety of a trucking company's operations and prevent numerous dangerous or deadly accidents.
If you have been involved in a dangerous accident, it is more than just the dangerous truck driver who is at fault. The trucking company and others have a responsibility to utilize such reasonable and easy methods as GPS monitoring to ensure the safety of their operations. At Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata, & Siegel, P.C. we are dedicated to improving the safety of our roads by penalizing those whose negligence contributes to dangerous behaviors. Call or email us today to learn how we can help your case.
