Though advances in driverless technology are gaining a lot of attention, many believe that safety features like automatic emergency braking and backup alarms are creating a quiet revolution. These features can be a great benefit to fleet owners in North Carolina, cutting down on the number of accidents and even helping to improve driver training.
Automatic emergency braking, combined with forward collision warning systems, can be especially useful in preventing rear-end collisions. Adaptive cruise control can keep a safe distance from other vehicles, and lane departure warning systems alert drivers whenever they drift out of their lane. Even entertainment technology like Bluetooth connectivity, satellite radio and Apple Car Play integration help by letting drivers focus on the road.
Video-monitoring technology can record truck drivers’ behavior through in-cab cameras that are activated the moment a risky situation occurs. If drivers’ behavior is unsafe, employers could use the footage not so much to punish their employees as to help them improve. The footage could be used to track basic safety requirements like seat belt use. Monitoring systems could additionally alert employers to truck maintenance issues.
Lytx, a provider of Drive Cam technology, says that the companies that adopt this feature can expect as much as a 25 percent reduction in accidents after the first year. Collision costs may also go down about 80 percent.
Safety technology will not help, though, if truckers choose to be negligent. When negligence is behind commercial truck accidents, those who are injured may file a claim and possibly be reimbursed for their medical bills, vehicle repair costs, lost wages and other losses. In this state, anyone partially at fault cannot be eligible for compensation, so a lawyer may help victims determine if they qualify. The lawyer may handle all negotiations or prepare the case for court.