Crisscrossing America’s highways are semi-trucks. Semi-trucks transporting all types of goods to all types of destinations are an essential component of the economy. However, operating one of these vehicles is not without its risks. Semi-trucks can be overloaded, have significant blind spots and may be slower to stop and start than automobiles. Therefore, drivers of semi-trucks must be especially careful to avoid truck accidents. This is because one negligent move could cause a collision with a smaller vehicle, ending in vehicular damage and serious or fatal injuries.
However, Wilmington residents may be interested to learn of a technological development one company is making in semi-trucks which has the potential to make driving around one of these vehicles safer. Samsung has recently revealed new technology that makes semi trucks “see-through.” The development involves placing a special camera that is not connected to wires in the front of the semi-truck. The camera then sends images of the road in front of the semi-truck to video screens in the back of the vehicle. This gives drivers of other vehicles the ability to “see-through” the big rig in order to determine what the traffic conditions are in front of it, including whether there will be the need for a truck to come to a sudden stop.
It is very important for truck drivers to be aware of not only the vehicles surrounding them but also of the road conditions that could lead to a sudden stop. In addition to the safety component of this new technology, it may be possible that companies that adopt the new technology might see a positive uptick in their public image.
While it is important for drivers of smaller vehicles to take care when driving around semi-trucks, semi-truck drivers need to also take care while on the road. Negligent truck driver behavior could include drowsy driving, drunk driving and aggressive driving. Hopefully, however, this new technology will lead to fewer truck accidents, serious injuries and deaths on the road.
Source: Sci-Tech Today, “Samsung to make ‘see through’ trucks for safety,” Shirley Siluk, June 23, 2015
