A new study from AAA has found that up to 63,000 truck-related crashes and hundreds of deaths could be prevented each year if all trucks had advanced in-cab and driver-facing truck cameras installed. The study claims that the benefits “far outweigh the costs.”
Dubbed “Leveraging Large Truck Technology and Engineering to Realize Safety Gains,” the study was conducted by AAA to estimate the cost-effectiveness of installing safety technologies in ALL new and pre-existing trucks. It examined a few different technologies both separately and together as a whole. Those technologies were:
- Video-based onboard safety monitoring systems. Installing these on ALL large trucks could potentially prevent 63,000 crashes, 17,733 injuries, and 293 deaths annually.
- Lane departure warning systems. Installing these on ALL large trucks could potentially prevent 6,372 crashes, 1,342 injuries, and 115 deaths annually.
- Automatic emergency braking systems. Installing these on ALL large trucks could potentially prevent 5,294 crashes, 2,7535 injuries, and 55 deaths annually.
- Air disc brakes. Installing these on ALL large trucks could potentially prevent 2,411 crashes, 1,447 injuries, and 37 deaths annually.
The numbers provided are if every single new and used truck had these safety systems installed in them.
While many new trucks do in fact have advanced safety systems built in, there are millions of trucks already on the road in the US that would need to be retrofitted. The cost of such an undertaking would be almost incalculable, but AAA insists that – at least for the lane departure systems and video systems – “the benefits of equipping all new and existing large trucks… would far outweigh the cost of doing so.”
Even if it were cost-effective, the debate over driver-facing cameras is a hot one. The “video-based onboard safety monitoring systems” that AAA’s study talks about isn’t only for watching the vehicle’s surroundings, but also “the driver’s behavior and performance.”
“There’s no question that truck safety technology saves lives,” said the executive director of the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. “This new research shows that the benefits of adding many of these technologies to trucks clearly outweigh the cost.”
But the study claims that safety wouldn’t be the only benefit. They also hope that the safety systems will help other drivers on the road feel more comfortable around large trucks.
“It’s understandable that many motorists are fearful and feel vulnerable when traveling near large trucks,” said AAA’s director of Traffic Safety Advocacy and Research. “Adding these safety technologies to the trucking fleet is not only cost-effective, but doing so helps to alleviate driver concerns and prevents crashes. In the long run, it’s a win-win for industry and drivers nationwide.”
Source: AAA, fleetowner, ttnews, wlwt, centralvalleybusinesstimes, augustafreepress, kiro7
Matthew says
How about forcing drivers facing cameras for motorists of light trucks, such,vans, and passenger motor vehicles. I have a feeling that how ways will be come safer once motorists can be ticketed jailed or have their license suspended based what they were doing while driving. Using the phone ,surfing the internet putting makeup, eating, writing. Etc.
Taylor Toad says
Tell big brother to put them in all government vehicles first. Then try invade my privacy. Voluntary only. Deregulate what we may charge. So the cost to snoop will cost u and when I have sleep time I will start sleeping nude,see how they like that..put it all 4 wheels out there. This just lame.
Lou says
I agree with you. Wasn’t there some kind of survey done not long ago that most accidents involving trucks and cars turned out that it was the car drivers fault?
Steven says
How is a camera going to prevent a death???? Or is it just going to make it easier for everyone to blame us?? See your honor he was picking his nose that’s distracted driving…. brake yes but they are pricy and I doubt a retro kit would be cheap. Lane departure sure if half the road ways weren’t under construction. Auto brake system? Yeah um no. What if it’s snowing or raining or the radar sees a ghost? Brakes lock down I slide off the road no thank you. You need to install a master over ride on these systems when they obviously would do more harm then good or breakdown so we can get a move on
Glen Handwerk says
I drove one of these brake system very dangerous. , it would brake if there was an overpass ahead they tried to adjust but couldn’t so it was disabled, it would also apply brakes when cars a 100yds ahead would switch lanes.
Ray says
I drove an On-Gaurd (auto-braking) equipped truck for almost 2 years for one of the big companies. It sometimes didn’t work at all and would also some times activate when it wasn’t needed (scaring the ever-loving shit out of me!). It did save some ass-hats in cars a couple of times that decided to cut me off in heavy traffic. It will hit the brakes faster than a human can react to something so it only needs to be refined to work when its supposed to.
Theres all sorts of ways to reduce accidents but some of the trucks I seen allowed to operate just boggled my mind. Doing a proper inspection several times a day is a good place to start to, perhaps a UPC system that requires drivers to scan bar-codes at inspection points located all over the vehicle before you can start the engine.
Theres really no way to eliminate accidents altogether, even if there where no drivers things will go amiss.
Robert says
I have the auto-brake on my truck it only operates when the cruise control is on.
Mike says
Or what bout the lil cars have a system that tell them there 1/2 mile from your exit then 1/4 mikea from your exit , but no there a big truck going a lil slower than me i can get around him then get off , bately mississing my front bumper coming over it front of from the left lane or two lanes over so cameria makes me hit my breaks hard. Ohh what bout when they pull out in front of me gettin on the interstate ir pulli out in front of me from a side road using up my space they think i can beat that big truck i’ve got more power
zee says
The radar works on 76-81 ghz, and the FCC has opened that band width
up for that purpose. Done the auto braking system, with multiple failures
and dangerous, cutting off the jake and engine killed going down Parly in a snowstorm, brakes slammed on on Grants pass with 73 mile an hour truck going other way,etc.
Camera’s are an invasion of privacy and clearly used to harass a driver.
Who is triple a inthe pocket of here. That’s the real question.
zee says
add all the above features to every vehicle on the road,
and the autos and their drivers will all feel very, very safe.
It’s all about their brainwashing and their feelings.
Every one knows life is not safe and there are no guarantees
of said safety.
Where are the super bowl ads from triple a and the likes
touting the proper driver procedures around big trucks.??
Instead, it’s the bad boy truckers who are always the dangerous ones.
Bleeding hearts all.
Ken Sawyer says
As a trucker with over 30 years on the road I don’t feel safe when cars are around me. So where is your plan to make them safer? You going to install cameras that will stop them from entering my lane when they are only 2 feet past my bumper or is that my problem? Have you found a way to stop them from crossing the solid white line at exits in front of me while in the breaks?
Gary Phetteplace says
So true Ken.
Kevin says
They won’t ever come up with a plan, cause that is their base. And due to their own profits they can’t upset their base. But I completely agree with you.
R.J. says
Boy, those are two of my biggest bugaboo’s and clearly need to be addressed.
I’d love to see driver facing cameras in SMALLER vehicles.
Who’s going to monitor all those cameras and by extension, drivers, minute by minute?????
There is no substitute for a WELL trained and professionally behaving driver.
Jason Aho says
Well trained and professionally behaving… THAT is the key right there!!!
Chris Wilson says
Professional driver is spot on. Curtious 4-wheeler drivers would save tens of thousands of accidents per year.
But blame the driver… it’s their fault for being on the road.
zee says
AGREED!
Kenlui says
I don’t care what they say about in cab facing cameras. I won’t ever drive with that setup. Its not gonna make it safer.if anything an annoyance on the back. Someone staring at you all the time distracting the driver am I doing something wrong or doing something right. I’ve been driving for many years and I will not ever believe their so-called safety precautionary measures, because it’s all about money how they can line their pockets and take money out of ours. just like the anonymous trucks are just screwing the driver every chance they can.
Robert says
The cameras won’t be monitor. They will be treated as “black boxes” just like airplanes.
Kevin Barnes says
Thank you, I agree 100%
It’s time that we make the cars, Tv’s and others take on some responsibility and I make all of them have this safety equipment. They also need to be held to the same hands free law, that would save thousands of lives.
Ashley Crilley says
Exactly! They always want to blame the truck driver. Did they do a study on how many cars cause truck accidents a year and how to prevent that. If a car cuts me off and slams on its breaks i guess thats my fault! Absolutely not, stop giving anybody a damn license. And add driving education to the manual on how to safely operate your 4 wheeler around my damn rig!! Gtfoh
Charles says
Recently the high courts in Canada ruled that in cab cameras are invasion of privacy and ruled that they should be removed.
John O Hannel says
It is a giant invasion of privacy.just big brother trying to stick it to truckers
Mack Cell Harmon Jr says
I agree on that invasion of privacy the camera’s can see on the outside and inside of your truck that should be a class action lawsuit.
Douglas Kirk says
California ruled it wasn’t
Jeff pearson says
Who cares what california says..if its the 9th ..they say no to everything.. it will be taken to the supreme court..
zee says
the 9th’s record stands for liberal socialism. It does not stand on common sense or the rule of law.
James says
Thank you. Camera comes often for no reason.
Or when hooking up to the trailer and stays on.
I canceld AAA long ago. No longer consume Budweiser either.
Jeff Tingle says
AMEN, James! Anybody in the trucking industry or anyone who cares about highway safety should seriously consider cancelling their AAA membership. For many years, AAA has championed anti-truck legislation that has actually made our roads LESS safe. Modern GPS, more reliable cars and travel info widely available elsewhere have made AAA an expensive anachronism. We should make them fade away!!!
Barney says
Just a friendly correction- it was the high court of Quebec
I wish it was the Federal Supreme Court…… But it’s a start.
A union was the plaintiff on behalf of Cisco drivers- the main crux of their argument being invasion of privacy and infringement on the drivers ‘rights and freedoms’ as laid out in the Canadian Charter
Anthony Calderon says
AAA needs to mind their own business before i cancel their butts
Chris Dery says
Canceling my AAA membership today!
Jesse Taylor says
I’m with you cancelling mine as well……
Aj says
I’m canceling mine to
Rayzer says
Canceling my membership as soon as I post this. Would love to see something put in the vehicles of everyone that works for AAA for a year to monitor every single aspect of their driving habits and then let us do some compiling of our own.
john says
first, a driver facing camera will not prevent an accident.
second, I own my truck, I will not purchase a driver facing camera system, AAA can pay for it and I will cover it up.
third, ALL AAA employees, their children and grandchildren who drive are required to have driver facing cameras (lets see how that flies)
fourth, as professional drivers, we see how many passenger cars with 5,6,7 + inch screens in their dashes, and we are the distracted driver?
fifth, where just where is there a study that proves a driver facing camera stops or reduces crashes? how can this study be conducted? its time to put this article out in the mainstream truckers ears, start cancelling AAA memberships. I am going to spread the word to cancel memberships.
I personally invite the CEO or ANY AAA executive to ride with me, no overnites required, unless you desire to sleep on the top bunk. At the end of several days you will see who the distracted drivers are and who TRULY needs driver facing cameras. Almost a guarantee it those driving cars.
Kevin Barnes says
Same here, cancelling today !!!!!!
ce says
that’s cool
Andrew H says
I drove for Werner for a few years. They were trying that MobileEye thing, that has lane departure warning, following distance detection, speed limit monitoring. More drivers got into a crash to shut the damn things up I think.
Robert says
I have lane departure, on guard collision management. I don’t see any issues. The problem I do have is when idiot drivers big trucks and cars cut in front of me too close. It’s even bigger problem when cars cut me off and slam on the brakes.
To turn off lane departure all you have to do is flip the switch. And you wouldn’t get in accident if you left plenty of space in front. Especially in traffic jams.
Plus don’t make late decision on exiting the freeway. Drive a safe speed, not the speed everyone else is driving.
I was taught by an old school driver that has been out here nearly 40 years.
Rick says
How does anyone know you have lane departure technology? I have it and I just deal with people moving in front of me. They aren’t “cutting me off” for the most part. I have no switch to turn off LD. And as for leaving space? Hahahahahaha. That’s just room for 4 more cars. We have a 3.0 sec distance gap. Do you know how many cars can get in that gap? Yeah I’ll just keep backing off. Until I’m late for every appointment.
Melissa Guidry says
Yep!
Douglas Kirk says
I’ve been out here nearly 40 years. I don’t need a babysitter. Period.
Kevin Mulligan says
I agree with what you said, but your old school driver would not be in favor of this Nanny State B.S.!
Donny says
Based on AAA’s own research, 88 percent of millennials have exhibited risky behavior behind the wheel. Perhaps we should put driver-facing camera in their car? Or how about AAA’s director of Traffic Safety Advocacy and Research, who came up with this novel idea to invade privacy? Since four-wheelers are the cause of most crashes, let’s put a camera in his car.
Joshua Weiser says
I bet Jr schugel trucking is involved with the study they are big on front and rear facing drive cams
Bee conner says
I seriously doubt that. Jr Schugel is a very small company compared to the mega carriers. There are several companies installing cameras. I am just curious about how much these companies get from the government and insurance for installing the cameras. I imagine it is very profitable for them. I can guarantee the drive cam company stores all the video with out your knowledge. Not just “critical events”. Your company only get what smart drive cam wants to send them. Whom else does smart drive cam sends your 24 hour video to?
Wesley Cory says
Follow the money…
Silverspur says
There must be some fine print that says they can use your imagrs for marketing purposes
Barney says
Yep- the dips*•ts (millennials) in a recent survey also think they drive at least as good or better high on weed!
We’re screwed, cause these are the same clowns who now make policy, who also possess an addiction to trinket needless technology and an irrational perversion for cameras and voyeurism
Old school common sense is despised and resented.
Lance N. says
It will prevent accidents by making drivers more careful, because they know they are on camera. Just as visible cameras in stores can prevent theft.
It works. The buses I work on have 5-12 cameras inside and out of them. When I road test a bus for diagnosis, I am very aware of them as there is one pointed straight at me. Because of that, I am constantly on alert to be on my best behavior and follow every road/company rule. Being a mechanic though, I can have a bit of fun intentionally setting off the g-force trigger of the cameras “testing” the brakes, steering and suspension.
Joshua Weiser says
So what your saying is that in order to behave you need a camera on you at all times instead of having good morals
MeOff says
We have all seen the other drivers doing things they should not.
With a camera in them they might put the phone down and drive like the should.
I don’t like the idea of cameras in my truck but I don’t like getting run out of my lane because some idot can’t put his or her phone down.
Bee conner says
Good point!
Debra Schrock says
Im happy for you but you arent in that bus 24hrs a day 7 days a week and out for weeks at a time. Being on camera that long, while sleeping, changing clothes, etc. More to it than you think. How is that camera going to prevent a bad driver from being bad? It isnt. Aaa is having some kind of dream. If all cars, pickups have to also maybe. Big Brother wants to see you pick your nose now.
JudgeRightly says
The argument being made is that an inward facing camera will prevent an accident from happening.
A camera can do nothing but record what is going on inside the cab during an accident. While I agree that it can be used as a teaching device to show the driver what he or she could do better, the problem is that the camera cannot do anything to actually stop what happens immediately prior to an accident.
Its presence can change the behavior of a driver, but it cannot stop him or any other driver from causing an accident. The only thing a camera does in the event of an accident is to remove all deniability (of being at fault) from the truck driver and his company, even if he was driving like he normally would that keeps him safe from other idiots.
I’d like to see what happens when we put all of these “safety devices” on the vehicles of people who make these laws, and show them what it’s really like to have them on their vehicle. And not only that, but punish them (or notify them in some annoying way) for everything they do wrong while driving, no matter how small.
R.J. says
I’d like to see a 180 degree “dash-cam” installed, to show WHO caused a given accident. At 60 years old, I’m SO tired of smaller vehicles cutting in 10 feet off my bumper at ALL speeds. My older reflexes aren’t getting any faster…..
Dave Bird says
To make it fair, and who doesn’t want everything to be fair, you would also have to put cameras in their bedrooms.
Jesse Taylor says
If thts the case then by your logic theft should stop frm cameras in shopping outlets and we all know it doesn’t just as these cameras won’t just another group tht doesn’t have a clue wht it takes or the experiences of trucking the problem is not the trucks become unsafe its these four wheelers tht day in and day and out become more brazen and reckless because drivers are safer if you want it in a truck I suggest put it in these cars as well then and see how tht goes over.
HARRY says
Sounds like u go around all day squeezing your but,cheeks,we are about to start competition. With a machine, now they want to film our reactions
Kevin Mulligan says
You don’t live and work in you bus 24/7..Also, ask your boss if he wants a camera pointed at his desk all day. School buses, fine. That is good for your protection, for those trouble making brats your hauling.
Thomas Kirkpatrick says
Do you live in that bus?
Jack Nardo says
They want to put all this safety technology into big trucks to make four wheelers feel more comfortable????? Why? So that they can be more relaxed to make more stupid ass moves. When is something going to be done that targets piss poor drivers in those four wheelers… such as driver facing cameras, Lane departure alerts.etc…. hell, look how many of them out there don’t know how to turn on headlights whenever it’s pouring down rain. Here’s a thought for AAA…. how about calling for a mandate that whenever a car’s wipers are on their headlights automatically will come on so that they can be seen….. I wonder how many accidents and lives that could save??? Figure that one out AAA.
Brandi says
That’s a good one, I could get behind wiper headlights! Another one that irks me is no headlights in dense fog. Watched another trucker end up with a white car halfway out the other side of his trailer because he pulled out in front of the car. Dense fog, car had no lights on, car driver was cited… Personally, I say she was lucky to have survived.
Mark McKay says
The president of AAA is about to get a very nasty letter from this 40 year member.
Bee conner says
Good for you! Just a thought, ask him how much smart drive camera is paying him for stating it is a great idea to put cameras in big trucks.
Barney says
Exactly!
Phoney data, phoney research, phoney surveys ad naseum snowjob
Follow the money…… As usual somebody’s gettin greased
Follow the money!!
Joshua Weiser says
I bet that dill hole has never been in a rig. I say they need to leave us professional drivers alone and go after the schools.
Chuck says
All about trucks! Let’s talk about the cars that; have problems paying attention I. E. Cell phones/texting.
But, drivers that I’ve seen, watching TV, texting etc, etc, etc. We’re or own worse enemy.
Barney says
The ‘motoring public’ takes precedent
Quit whining and step aside, 4-wheeler comin through!!
We seriously need to consider a system wide strike
George says
All the cars need to learn how to drive around big trucks put the same thing in there cars and let’s see how they like it
Michael Gallegos says
BS: CAMERAS DO NOT PREVENT ACCIDENTS.
DRIVERS – human beings in control of vehicles prevent and avoid accidents.
What, AAA, you bought stock in driver facing dash cams; are their people in that industry greasing you wallets ??? How much to you stand to make on this BS issue?
JudgeRightly says
Talk about conflict of interest…
Robert Graham says
There’s a easy fix for it if they put one in my truck ……a roll of tape
Barney says
When they find that out- they’ll devise a serious set of penalties for that too!!
Hang us high!!
Guzzi says
Do you have sources?
Shaina says
Instead of worrying about how to control and industry that’s over regulated already, why are we not focusing on the big problem. Cars and people who can’t drive. Had 2 extremely close calls yesterday alone. And I’m talking within inches of hitting people who were on their phone or not taught proper techniques. (1 a guy cut a corner thank god my other truck in front of me warned me I would meet up with him in the corner and had already slowed down, 2nd a semi was turning right, 4 lane road divided center, instead of making sure nothing was coming around the left side of the semi the car pulled out, I missed her by inches.) so how am I the problem as a commercial driver. All the companies that are using these “driver facing cameras” are the issue. You happen to sneeze and hit a bump and those companies are calling it distracted driving. Like seriously? We’re human, we make mistakes, why does our privacy have to be invaded when 9/10 times the commercial vehicle isn’t the problem.
Daniel says
All the time. We get an email from the company saying the public has complained about some of the drivers driving aggressively and not making properly and changes and someone is so forth.. and then the drivers – we all talk and we’re like, if people let you in when yoube been signaling for 10 F N seconds you wouldn’t have to take the spot that’s open as soon as it opens as soon as you can.. the major problem is not the drivers in the trucks but other drivers.
Ronnie Noreca says
Trucking needs to be deregulated I signed up to get a CDL not for the Secret Service CIA and FBI. We need Advocates and activists and lobbyists know anybody can we volunteer?
shogun says
So that’s why Swift got rid of them, they were saving too much money and paying more in taxes, laying off their safety personnel. Got it.
Daniel says
Have they ever used webcams? Drivers are going to be focused on being filmed instead of driving.
Lane departure systems will be useful because people on the road always close in into your blind spot when you’re changing lanes (then blame you for it).
Disc brakes should have been mandatory a long time ago (all vehicles, front and rear) because drum brakes have the potential to overheat and when they are overheated and experiencing brake fade or less than optimal braking in general. There’s not much you can do about the brakes overheating when you’re in area where they prohibit engine brakes, regardless of speeds, traffic and hills — unless you’re a driver like me that uses the engine brake when it’s necessary regardless of the stupid guidelines I posted the side of the road. If I’m hauling 96000 pounds I frankly don’t care if you don’t like my engine brake. My responsibility is to control the truck. Keeping in mind its a stock truck with the properly muffled system and not and opened pipe like people use and then rumble through the smallest towns..
Emergency braking systems and dynamic cruise control are perfectly fine by me – but abs brakes is one of the worst mandatory industry standards. Abs brakes should never engage unless you attempt to steer under heavy braking conditions (all vehicles). If you look into it you will see that the maximum breaking effectiveness in a straight path has nothing to do with pulsating the brakes. When abs kicks in my braking distance is severely affected. I’ve driven trucks with no abs brakes and have had to use the brakes very hard and I’m perfectly capable of coming to a stop in a short distance without losing control. Abs means Absolute Bull S… 😉
Some systems are useful. Abs brakes became standardized when they realized people were too stupid to learn how to threshold brake and take their foot off the brake before steering around an obstacle.
With too many vehicles on the road already they should have stopped handing out licenses to just about anyone and only provided licenses to people who were truly qualified to drive.
R.J. says
If I’m going to be on camera 24/7, I’m going out to get my hair styled and get those permanent bags under my eyes fixed…..
Gary Fowler says
Lol
Barney says
Lol!!!
Now that’s funny, I better too
Haha
Proverbs 16:9 says
You can thank California for that
Jim says
Disk brakes are great, but have much higher component failure rate than drum brakes ( calipers, rotors, ect) I was a kid the first time they tried disks on class 8 vehicles, hundreds of deaths due to failures. And that was just the 1st 6 months. Called em ” sometime brakes” Sometimes they worked, sometimes not. Not willing to risk my life for a second try.
35 to 40 thousand people die, several hundred thousand injured every year with absolutely no assistance from any type of commercial vehicle. How bout they get those numbers down before casting us in the role of highway villan.
No amount of technology replaced a well trained, seasoned driver.
Brandi says
I’ve driven with all drums, front disc/rear drums, and now currently drive a 389 with all discs… I love the discs. I wasn’t around when they tried them before but I think they’ve done em good this time.
Jeff pearson says
They can put up all of the no engine brakes they want… BUT IT IS A SAFETY DEVICE..that city wants to be safe dont they?
Jody Sims says
Aaah… my favorite pet peeve. Those signs barring engine braking make me want to take their city council members for a ride in their city so they can point out which of their residents are expendable. That way when I kill one of them due to lack of full use of all my safety equipment and it’s just one of the expendable ones, I won’t feel guilty.
John Tabor says
Ok when are they putting these safety devices in cars.
Of all the problems with our roadway and they want to focus on trucks are you kidding me. Take Atlanta bypass no trucks in left lanes so we are forced to deal with all the cars wanting on the freeway and the ones getting off.Take a look at that we are set up for failure.
I’ve been a member of AAA since the early 90’s but I won’t be much longer.
Frank says
And when are they going to force 4 wheelers to put driver facing cameras in their cars. You could write a book on what goes on in 4 wheelers when they are going down the road.
Ed Whetstone says
How about AAA start looking into the passenger cars doing the EXACT SAME thing they are suggesting for the big trucks. It has been proven that passenger cars cause the majority of all big rig crashes.
Barney says
Have you not yet noticed??
When a big truck at fault- they care
A 4-wheelers fault…..UP come the blinders
Cliff says
As long as the AAA also requires it of all their automobile owning members. Hey, fair is fair. If it is such a great thing, I would think the AAA would be all over the idea that it must be required of all its members.
Mark says
If thats how tripple a thinks then let them pay for them they also half to put them in every car in america or they are saying its ok for cars to text put makeup on and hundreds of other things we see every day if they dont its another case of targeting trucking industry
Chris says
Really what about installing cameras in cars as well so everyone can see if the person driving the car was distracted by either texting at looking at their phone at videos
Old man says
Next trucks will have to be equipped with a cold water sprayer if the camera thinks it detects a tired eye movement or maybe a robot hand that slaps your face.
BRODERICK DUNNIGAN says
Drivers let’s park these trucks
Barney says
Here here!!
Barney says
I’m definitely opting for the face slapping!!
:0
Kevin says
Still safety people don’t get it. Too many rules and too much safety. Whenever we have issues in our society, the first thing we want to do is throw more rules, regulations, laws and fines at it. As a society we no longer teach people how to think over what to think. In the oil and gas industry there’s been an increase in incidents and accidents since 2007. The crash of 08 brought out bean counters and safety people in droves. Rules, rules, rules and more rules. We’re messing with the mind here. When the human mind is so paranoid it will make a mistake, it does. It’s called “walking on eggshells” and has the reverse effect of what’s intended. If I throw a mountain of crap at the AAA director it would be called information overload. We all know what happens next. We have now reached safety overload. I’ve seen people that have been doing the same job safely for 39 plus years now second guessing everything they do because they’re wondering if they’re going to do it wrong and be fired. We used to focus on doing our jobs safely. Now we’re so focused on safety, we can’t do our jobs.
Keith G says
Safety is rarely the issue, but lowering liabilities for companies and government. Revenue and control are the driving forces, not your safety.
Javier Gamez says
Western Express claimed my dog was a distraction and made me take her off my truck, all because of someone claiming that I swerved into her lane. What they never asked me was why I swerved, the opposite lane cut me off, and I had to slam the brakes, but then my lil chiweenie slipped and fell out the window, so I swerved to stop the traffic on her side just in case her seatbelt failed.
Jon says
If your dog could fall out the window, then that is a distraction.
Mike Moore says
Its only a way to sue trucks easier aaa only represents cars so they go for the getto lottery
Jeremy says
It starts off with a lie. The reality is 40,000 people dies in CAR accidents last year, only a few dozen even had a truck involved.
80% of all accidents do not involve trucks. Of that 20% that do involve trucks 78% are caused by a passenger vehicle according to the dot.
Trucks are already the least likely vehicle to be in an accident. They need to crack down on the standard issue stupid people they allow to drive cars.
Jon B says
Wanna make the roads safer? How about cars installing internet/text disabling devices that activate when the vehicle is moving? People can download maps to where they’re going while parked, and passengers can read a book, take a nap, or….here’s an idea…..carry on a conversation with the other live humans in the car.
Steve Malochleb says
Ok guys,have read all your opinions,you know that the1/2 percent of bad truckers is the reason for this crap. Like everything else the few cause the problem for the many. I’m a four wheeler and have never had a problem with a trucker. If I see them signal I back off to let them change lanes. It’s a hell of a lot easier for me to get back up to speed and pass when they get back in their lane. And your damn right about the texting and other things going on. I think you should have cameras facing out your side window,then put that stuff on social media. Keep on trucking guys and gals.👍🇺🇸
Bee conner says
Thank you!
Brandi says
Need more like you, Steve.
Barney says
Thank you Steve
I’m happy some people understand our situation
Troy C says
What happened to Trump’s promise to remove two regulations for every one imposed? ELD’s are coming, so what two regulations will be removed?
Barney says
North Korea has got him busy right now
Marleen yellin says
These things should be put in all cars as well so we can see what they were doing when they cut the big truck off..or rear. Ended the car or truck in front of them…AAA stick to cars as they are the number 1 cause of trick accidents
Stephen Baetz says
Let’s start with putting them in all passenger vehicles and light trucks first as we all know that 93%of the time it’s the automobile driver that is at fault.
Let’s take a look at those motorists who aren’t paying attention to their driving.
Those who, oops my cell phone fell on the floor in the passenger seat well and reached for it, then crashing.
The commuter late for work, putting on their makeup or the business man shaving, or someone reading a book.
Hey, AAA, this driver with more than 3 million coast to coast all weather aaccident free driving has seen it all. So let’s start with all you folks first shall we!!!!
Shel says
Adaptive cruise control and automatic braking are dangerous. Cameras that are never going to save a life. It’s all a bunch of crap except for better brakes
Gary Fowler says
Adaptive cruise control is annoying. But not dangerous. The systems are easily over ridden (in Volvos anyway) and turned off.
BTW, if you’re close enough for the system to start braking hard then you were way too close anyway. At least with any I’ve driven.
Skinner Diggs says
Its BS! I DONT NEED CAMS TO DISTRACT ME AND IVE BEEN BRAKING WITHOUT AN ACCIDENT FOR 35 YEARS!! WHY FIX IT IF IT AINT BROKE?!!
Brandi says
Because they went and broke it by putting idiots behind the wheel of 40 ton road missiles.
Barney says
Cause we are sitting ducks- that’s why
We have little power or motivation or knowhow to stop the various factions from bullying us!!
Period
And it’ll never end unless we unite and get motivated
Cletus D. Fetus says
Put your money where your mouth is AAA. YOU spend the money to make ALL trucks “safer” with this technology. The benefits far outweigh the cost, right??? Yeah, I didn’t think so.
F D. Trump says
Have you guys seen enough yet? They are just going to keep on going at this rate until they have zapped every one of your rights.
Teresa Burke says
Our first truck that had lane departure did an excellent job waking the driver in the bunk. Yes there are many times you must cross that solid lane:i.e. Construction, when. A vehicle crowds or enters your lane are just a few.
So the driver in the bunk that should be sleeping is constantly awaken by that loud obnoxious sound.
Driver facing cameras are an invasion of privacy since the truck also doubles as a home away from home.
Stop regulating things you know nothing about!
ELD well I worked under those once. I can tell you first hand they are used to force drivers to drive.
Barney says
Bang On!!
Agree on all points
Gary Fowler says
Sure thing. Right after they put them into cars and admit that they don’t want a free country that abides by the Constitution.
Wooley says
Great idea, but how many deaths are caused by 4 wheelers? We should install the same tech in ALL vehicles, that way no one will ever die! Let me know when the 4 wheeler agree to this.
Driver says
Aaa can shove their cameras..a good hot cup of coffee poured directly into the electronics on them they will work perfectly..just another big brother watching you ploy…
John Burleson says
I love it when a room full of weasels that never sat in the cab of a big rig get together and consume enough cheese and Mogan David to actually come up with an idiot list of statistics based on nothing more than who scratched their crotch the most. Take your numbers and stick ’em where the sun don’t shine, idiots. You want to prevent a lot of accidents? Install cameras that tape exactly what a driver sees: side mirrors, dashboard and, of course, the road ahead. Put a big sticker on the back of every trailer that says ” Smile, you’re being videotaped!” I tried it. Surprising how courteous the four-wheelers got…!!
Just Me says
Exactly Right, John Burleson! The intent of cameras facing drivers is to find reason to blame the driver and to prevent corporations and insurance companies from having to pay. Period. Invasion of privacy is so obvious here it is ridiculous! I wouldn’t doubt that right now newer vehicles or truck logging computers already have cameras/recording devices installed. I drove years ago and, sadly, would never want to today. To pass on advice I got back in the 1970’s: Young drivers, if you need help/advice–look for someone with snow on the mountain (white hair)!
Keith G says
Those company wanks who come up with more restrictions, rules and nanny devices are not idiots–they’re not stupid, but evil and greedy, like many in government. If they had to work for a living and deal with things as drivers (that doesn’t include four-wheeler “drivers”) do, they might change their attitudes.
Barney says
Ain’t gonna happen
They are the oppressors…. We are the oppressed!!
Gear Grinder says
63,000 was pulled out of AAA’s hat. The self braking is so bad. I put a piece of electrical tape over the driver facing lense (then I quit that company). Lane departure warnings do nothing but distract a drivet. Disc brakes would be nice.
Jim says
35 to 40 thousand people die, hundreds of thousands injured every year on our roads, with no commercial vehicles involved. How about you reduce those numbers first, before you branch out into Trucking regulation. Clean up your own mess ,so to speak, before you address someone elses. Or to be more blunt, who cares if your members ” feel” safe, your own studies show they are the cause of most these wrecks !! I want to get home alive at the end of the day also, but your members male it harder every trip.
Steve says
Well if they are good enough for Truckers then everyone at the AAA should be required to have them in their cars first. AAA needs to Lead By Example. And every day show American Truckers what they do in their cars. Just sayin
Josh says
On the whole driver facing camera I drove with a camera facing me and honestly I felt like I was always being watched and I didn’t feel comfortable in the truck and if they don’t know lane departure warnings are ran by a camera and they record accidents when they happen. But they need to do this to four wheelers because they are the cause for most accidents on the highway.
Jeff pearson says
Ever read the book or the movie 1984? Because that is exactly where we are headed..
Barney says
Already there and then some infact!!
David says
To much teck in truck as it is . Also go screw yourself and put that camera in front of your desk. I do not need a spy, I know how to do my job. Yes drivers may nod to or three times, take the ELD’ s out and lets us take a nap when we need one without the on duty time running out. We are on a beat the clock system to make money, called production. No miles, no money, less miles, less money. Drive all your legal time= most money at top production.
Until you drive a truck for a living keep you nose out of my living take your camara and stick it up yours.
Bryce Carroll says
I used to drive for Saia. When they put driver facing cameras in their trucks, my response was to buy my own truck and go back over the road. Never looked back. I drove a camera equipped truck for three months before I left, and let me tell you it is complete BS. You can’t even sneeze without being told you’re driving distracted. The truck also had automatic braking, and let me tell you that crap is dangerous. There were a couple times I was in an urban area, and the car in front of me slowed to make a right turn. Both times I had plenty of space between me and the cars, and that truck slammed on the brakes hard enough to give me whiplash. Completely unnecessary, and what would have happened if that road had been icy, or wet even? Complete BS. These companies and organizations and federal government can take their so-called ‘safety’ devices and stick ’em where the sun don’t shine.
Aj helms says
Elog has already caused more deaths than the paper log system and as a elog driver I know why there are more wrecks now ever before every damn day you see elog trucks crashing into something and it’s led lights are making drivers night blind too burning their eye out like the light from a welding machine these people now want to put more shit in our trucks to cause us to have more wrecks! You all need to hit to road in a big truck and pass some of these elog new trucks and see for your self at nite there can looks like someone is welding inside the whole damn cab is a blue white glow with all the shit you all are putting in these trucks bunch of damn fools they just want to make more money make more crap they don’t care about life’s if they did they would get rid of abortion world wide! The real reason is they want to make more money and tax more! Damn thieves
Groo says
If any bit of technology is worth putting on every truck, then it is also worth putting on every car.
Red says
What they meant to say is that forward and rear facing cameras could prevent millions of $$$ in liability payouts from the insurance companies and carriers. They are not going to “prevent” any accidents, just shift the blame to the driver or the other motorists involved. Now the lane departure and auto-braking systems would prevent wrecks and I am a fan of forward facing cameras for my own protection but like I’ve said many times, there will never be a rear facing camera in any truck I drive! I don’t know why these idiots agree to drive a piece of equipment that only goes 62 mph and films you the entire day 24/7. Put your damn foot down and say no!
Iriemonarch says
Agreed 100%
Robert Maslyar says
Cameras do not prevent accidents and if you people were actually serious about preventing accidents then you would demand that people driving cars go through further education about how to conduct themselves on the road when sharing the road with trucks!!
For example reeducate drivers that a “Yield Sign” means yield the right of way to vehicles in the travel lane!! It does not mean pull out in front of a truck that’s doing highway speed and do 25 mph!!
And the one that really gets my blood boiling is the “ME FIRST ATTITUDE”!!
What that means is drivers will speed up pass you off get in front of you slam on their brakes and get off at the exit rather than doing the safe thing and get behind you!
So don’t tell me that the AAA is interested in safety!!
Their only interest is lining their pockets with the money the camera and insurance industry is giving them
period!!!!!
Frankie says
You know the signs are everywhere. Give big trucks room. It’s the law. RIGHT?? Bulldang. I’ve seen so many d bag 4 wheelers BREAK that law with a trooper basically seeing it….AND NOTHING!! How bout they put face cameras in troopers cars???
Yve St. John says
How can anyone be a predictor of how many accidents can possibly happen and how many lives can be saved unless you are God? There are so many variables on the road. Were ALLLL of those variables taken into consideration? When are they going to start drug testing passenger cars for opioids? There’s a whole lot of people driving on hard pain killers. How about drunk? When are they going to start using Elogs for those drivers that have two jobs. Those people are probably too tired to be driving. When are you going to start taking away passenger cars’ rights so the Truckers can be safer on the road?
Melissa Betancourt says
Anything to suck more money out of us. What’s going to stop these accidents are 4wheelers paying attention and staying off their phones and stop cutting us off.
Skinner Diggs says
And who’s going to be the ones to pay for all that “camera-monitoring”? Whos pocket is that ultimately coming out of?
Jarexx says
All these safety technology recommended by the AAA for commercial vehicles should be installed on private vehicles also. There should be a fair leveled playing field for all.
Infact non discriminatory implementation of said technologies would actually quadruple these safety study result data.
Robyn Creedon says
I can go with Emergency Braking, Lane Departure (as much as it annoys me), and Air Disc Brakes making rigs safer. The only purpose that the driver facing cameras serves is to let the insurance company reject a claim. If I feel that my driver is bad enough that I have to monitor him while driving, he no longer has a job. Period. Problem solved.
shogun says
A driver facing camera will prevent me from having an accident. According to my own research and unbiased in-depth analysis, it will prevent me from ever getting back in a truck and driving anywhere again.
Red says
Haha, amen!
Lisa Carlin says
Learn to drive a truck, go on the road for a while. Then, and only then, will you have an idea of what makes us safer because these ideas would be a disaster and the statistics are pure fantasy.
CLEE says
AAA YOU JUST LOST ANOTHER $. PULLING OUT. HIT YOU WHERE IT HURTS. AAA IS JUST LIKE EVERY OTHER REGULATOR WANT THE $. YOU GUYS COULD CARE LESS ABOUT SAFEY. ITS SAFETY IF IT COMES IN GREEN ($).
Brian White says
A camera observing the driver of a comml truck is going to prevent 63,000 crashes & 10’s of deaths?
AAA is nothing more than another bunch of liberal know-it-all’s wanting to impose their ideas on everyone else.
Noticed there wasn’t one word promoting individual liberty, personal responsibility, or less govt interference. Not even an honorable mention about reducing the number of regulations already in place.
Only words promoting the continuous & never-ending push for a ubiquitous, centralized, massive govt leviathon running EVERYTHING & EVERYONE.
The AAA can KMA.
Max says
I don’t like this either, I’m a member of AAA, you people canceling your membership please tell AAA why.
Donald Mickunas says
I have an idea. If all this safety crap is good for trucking, why not make it required for all motor vehicles. I would wager that putting cameras on all cars and personal vehicles would greatly speed up who was really at fault in accidents. That is assuming they really want to know the truth.
Gary McGaha says
Ok AAA, I’ll tell you what. First you require these things be placed on everyone of your customers vehicles. What’s fair one, is fair for all, right? If your customer base allows it, I’ll go along. Let’s see how that affects your business.
Maybe if people out there driving cars weren’t distracted by putting on makeup, eating fast food, chatting it up with passengers, talking on the cell phone, playing on Facebook, smoking their weed , we might see a 80% reduction in automobile related accidents.
Brian White says
I suggest the AAA lead by example and have those cameras installed in their own cars, as well as 3 or 4 of them at each desk in their office, observing their every little twitch.
Edward Fulke says
one large trucking company: union and workers , fought the cameras in trucks facing drivers, calling it INVASION OF PRIVACY! AND THEY WON THIS ONE.
mike C. says
wait a minute I gotta check to see if my boots are on. A camera might be a good idea but it would be an invasion of privacy . Who wants to view a driver digging deep for a nose rasin . What they want is to view to make sure we aren’t falling asleep at the time of any crash. Why don’t they make it mandatory for four wheelers to go to drivers ed for 3 months to learn how to drive correctly .It isn’t getting any better either I guess we will just have to deal with it .
mousekiller says
AAA. Stick with the automobiles . You have no clue about trucks or trucking. You are out of your league. The drivers in cars are responsible for the majority of accidents between trucks and passenger vehicles. The car driver. If you get your heads out of your behinds and target the real problem you will be surprised at how little you really know . A camera is in no way going to prevent even one death. We can guess , make up numbers for the feel good moment but nothing could be further from the truth. Cameras will not do anything but make lawyers richer. Every body and their brother will suddenly become an expert on facial expressions. Fact. The camera will talk to you after the accident.Not prevent it. It is a violation of a persons rights to be spied upon. AAA. if you really wanted to prevent accidents and deaths from said accidents. EDUCATE your members in how to pay attention when driving.Teach them how to drive around trucks on the highways and in city traffic.. Fact !! As a whole truck drivers are many times more safe than your average car driver is. AAA go after the real problem. The 4 wheelers as we call them. The idiots in the SUV’s the soccer moms doing every thing but changing a babies diapers while driving. AAA you are not seeing the real problem on our highways. Stick with what you do best. Insurance and vacation planning.
Donald Anglin says
Why stop w commercial vehicles? ..let’s just call for a camera in ALL VEHICLES …(sarc)
Steve says
Hey Mr ATA let me put a camera in your bedroom so I can watch you
L A Draper says
Cameras prevent deaths, accidents? Someone wants to sell a lot of cameras. Just like someone is going to make alot of money selling e logs.
CLEE says
THATS IT! ITS ALL ABOUT THE MONEY. THEY WANT ALL OF OURS.
Dwain says
Cameras are bs. This onguard crap is bs. I do Is drive around pissed off all the time because the beeping and when people cut u off to exit and it puts the breaks on.
David Hostetler says
And in a stunning new development AAA is putting in-facing cameras in all their executives personal cars.
“I’ll be so much safer” one said.
“If it’s good enough for trucks, it’s good enough for me” said another
“I love being spied on” said yet another.
Don’t we all……
Jeff pearson says
AAA can kiss my backside where the sun doesnt shine..AAA why dont you demand cameras in YOUR CUSTOMERS CARS? You know.. the ones that drive drunk..or high..or even the ones that cant chew gum and drive BECAUSE truck drivers have to drive around them EVERY DAY …Ohh you cant? Because your customers will leave you? Because if you demand cameras inside of trucks…you can get in your yugo..and drive down to the pier or local rail yard to pick up your food and supplys..because AAA you want to treat me like a child and not an adult who has a couple of million miles under my belt…Then I QUIT..and I bet about 5 million others will also..dont think so? Watch the big drop coming up with this ELD…when it is required…
AJ says
when they install this on all vehicles including passenger cars, then I’ll agree with it. Until then the AAA should go back to making up TripTics for their customers..
DB says
Just last week I was in slow traffic on the expressway due to an accident on the left side. The slow down was due to people being nosey. Just as we were passing the accident traffic started to pick up. But only for a few seconds due to alligators in the road. So traffic was stopping again. Well one of the people being nosey THOUGHT traffic was picking up and sped up. Too busy looking at the accident to realize traffic was slowing down again. Sure enough…. “SMASH”!!!!! Right into the back of the car in front of them which pushed that car into the front of them. I thought I caught it on my front facing cam in my rig but it didn’t. I would have loved to share that video to hope people would mind their frikkin business and stop being so nosey.
Craig Burton says
Why dont the truckers of America say ya know what enough is enough and lets all just park our trucks until they start doing something about the damn cars! I’m tired of everyday seeing more regulations, more rules, more restrictions on trucks and truck drivers and nothing being done about these assholes in their cars cutting off trucks, riding along side of one or the four out of five cars that pass me and the driver has his cell phone in his hand! Nothing is ever done to cars its always the trucks!
Short circuit says
The day that a camera faces me will be my last day in a truck !!! 34 years and not 1 chargeable accident.
MrNA says
Duh !! These surveys are funded by the Technology companies that will make $$$. B’S Americans are stupid. We got 4 wheelers and Truckers on phones. Unfortunately you cant regulate common sense. Put a device in that shuts your phone while driving. I’m scared too.
Michael says
Sounds like AAA is going out on a limb here. First theres the right to privacy; the truck is considered the drivers home. Potential for lawsuits here. Next, its doubtful, and more like wishful thinking, that cameras will prevent accidents. What about the idiots that cause the truckers to depart their lane? And, as far as the auto detecting braking systems… lets just say that I almost had the steering wheel jerked out of my hands when a vehicle whipped in front of me cutting me off. It almost caused me to loose control. Great safety device that is. Its not the truckers who are, putting on their make-up, texting, reading books, eating, picking their buts, and watching movies going down the road. Maybe AAA would be better serve the general public. If they stuck to bringing about better services for their paying customers.
Alt311 says
AAA just lost me as a member. Screw you aaa. You’re not in the truck business so keep your nose out of it. The reason most drivers don’t feel comfortable around trucks is because they SUCK as drivers. How about requiring drivers ed for ALL drivers? That would make ME feel more comfortable around idiots in cars who have not a clue about what they’re doing.
BigPete389 says
I would add that over half of those accidents are directly attributed to careless 4 wheelers requiring drivers to take defensive measures. Of course there are some bad truck drivers on the road but it’s definitely a smaller percentage than 4 wheelers who drive with impunity out here.
Richard A. says
Well, it seems that some manufacturers are at least making small steps to mitigate distracted driving.
I have a ’17 Santa Fe Sport which does not allow the driver to alter most settings while the transmission is in Drive. Compared to the ’15 model I owned, which allowed you to play with those settings at any time.
What’s really needed is technology which will completely lock out the ability to use a cell phone while the vehicle is in motion. This would eliminate a tremendous amount of distracted driving crashes.
I’ve been using ELDs for the last 6 years. The first ones allowed you to use and read them while driving. Now, you can only play the audio message while the truck is moving over 5 mph. The system is locked out otherwise.
Truckers are subjected to these restrictions, why not the general drivivg populace?
Mike says
Just another way big brother wants to invade your private space. Next it’s cameras in bathrooms, homes etc… but you drivers will accept it so hey!!!
thomas says
I now some of you truckers can what is realy goneing on.company like swift,prime,sch,is back by the the government. the big corp..they them to do their dirty work.just sit and look at what goneing on,runing off great driver.they have a agenda and we not included.by 20/20 they want dose self driving trucks.they are use you all to collect data! whitout data a computer is usely. tky about it.
Paul says
Business gimmick how does camera prevent accidents drivers needs rest finish and clar
james ingebritson says
Far outweigh the costs my foot. Hundreds of thousands of Truckers would refuse this invasion into their personal space and tje consumer can Drive to tje forest and male their own toilest papaer. Sounds expensive. Idiotic studies such as these would do well to stop targetting the very industry that feeds and clothes them. How about release the number of Truck related crashes not caused by the Truck and begin a crusade against ingnorant people being issued drivers license renewals online and in tje mail. Driving is a prvledge not a right.
RaginBull69 says
Most drivers are OTR which means they live in their trucks for weeks! Having in face cameras would violate their privacy right when they are on their 10 hr break or 34 hr reset!! What they are trying to do is have full control of you!! i think ELD is already good enough for them controlling idiots!! Not our privacy!!
Wesley Cory says
How about putting driver facing cameras in cars since they are responsible more majority of truck crashes. If they put one in my truck, I’ll either quit or invest in VERY DEROGATORY shirts and hats expressing my opinion on having a camera watching me…naw, I’ll just quit and make a place for another stupid-assed steering wheel holder. 😡
Brad says
I wonder if AS A has done a study on how 4 wheel motorist drive around 18 wheelers?
Has anyone tried to study that?
Hmm? Sounds like someone just wants to make more money by using other peoples sorrow….
Rob says
Ok let’s get real here AAA.
How about we make dashcams with driver facing cameras manditory for all vehicles and govern all vehicles to 70 MPH… and see how well that flies.
You can’t fix stupid but you sure can slow them down.
Let’s do some real analysis of dashcam footage and put the blame where it really belongs.
Most trucks are already governed below 70 and the industry has complied with every stupid whim thrown at it and yet collisions involving commercial trucks keep going up.
It doesn’t take a scientist or any specialist to do the math.
99.9 percent of truck related crashes are typically the fault of the idiot in the car who thinks it’s ok to cut off a truck and slow or stop quickly because THEY are NOT trained to operate Their vehicles around Trucks.
They do not know how much trucks weigh or how long they need to safely stop.
YouTube is FULL of dashcam videos of how these people drive …
have a look!
Brian says
This is a joke… AAA claims that an on-board camera system with a second camera facing the driver would prevent “up to 63,000 truck-related crashes and hundreds of deaths could be prevented each year”. They need to support their findings. I don’t see how a camera system would do this. Maybe for the first few weeks the driver wold be on their tipy-toes, but then they would forget the cameras even exist. Police officers forget they are wearing body cameras, that is why they still get their ass in trouble when beating someone down.
Mike says
If AAA wants to save lives then they need to stop ignoring the real killers. In Illinois in 2015 75% of the more than 1000 traffic fatalities did not involve big trucks. Of those that did, less than a quarter found the large truck at fault. So do you want to fix 1/16 of the cause of traffic fatalities or wake up and face the real problem!
Steve Malochleb says
Ohh the cage is rattled. Now all you drivers step back and breath. I agree with all of you, but take that technology and use it for yourself. My Ram Is outfitted with windshield mounted camera facing outwards because I got fed up with all the idiot drivers out there, as you say,texting,makeup,reading a book or their laptop and some xrated happenings. For under a 100$ put one on your dash and protect your selves. My camera starts running the minute I start my truck. I’ve even used it to provide evidence to the PD when an idiot caused an accident. I want evidence that I’m not at fault, that’s what I use it for. I give you truckers the greatest respect, without you America wouldn’t run. Be safe, happy motoring.
Sam says
What about this, let’s put cameras in all households so we can prevent any kind off illegal activity from happening. Notice all the cameras,adbrakes,and so on that the AAA and probably the ATA want to install on trucks would be financially beneficial to them. Think about it. It’s all about the money. Driver of 27 years and DONE in November. Rather dig ditches then deal with any more of this bs.plus it pays more.
Alan Birdsong says
I have been a truck driver for over 35 years and maybe AAA needs to do a study on why cell phones have caused more crashes than anyone can calculate. Then suggest the cell phone makers pay to have cars fitted with cameras and it would disable phone if the driver tried to use it.
Pete says
Yea, you can get stats to reflect what ever you want them to.
Timothy Birch says
How about cameras facing the idiots doing these studies. Making sure that they are being productive members of society.
Iriemonarch says
Insurance companies , the banksters, trucking companies and the video camera manufacturers have a strong lobby in Washington hence forth the study. Infringing upon driver privacy in the name of safety is as suspect as the study itself.
Wolf says
How about we do a little turn about is fair play. How about all this wonderful safety equipment we 1st put on cars, passenger vans, the family RV. I have used auto brake systems it almost got me killed. You put forward facing cameras fine, driving facing cameras I wanna see them go on cars 1st period I’m sick and tired of professional drivers being the Guinea pigs for more Big Brother equipment being installed on busses and trucks. Bad enough on a city bus you have no such thing as privacy. On a semi tractor trailer especially with a sleeper cab, that is the driver’s home so what now we spy on a driver’s home. If I need to have a driver facing camera after 34 years of not having the government next to me helping my job in any way shape or form, then I definitely need to retire.
Chris says
I have zero accidents and I dont have any automation. These people are just salesman for a hidden agenda….blame the driver any way you can.
Godisntreal says
Hey AAA how about putting cameras in every single car in America? How many live would that save? Oh well that wouldn’t be constitutional.
Roger W. Reid says
As a member of AAA and a professional driver for the last 25 years, I am shocked that you would lay blame for all truck, car crashes on trucks! When every other study at state and federal levels have concluded that civilians in four wheelers are to blame at least 80% of the time. A camera will not change anything. ELDS will not change anything. These knee jerk reactions are not solving anything. More education of car drivers is key to prevention. Our trucking industry is over regulated as it is and its not making any thing any better. There is such a thing as being safety stupid. You can overwhelm people with so much information and regulation that people will be so focused on trying not to violate safety rules that they can cause accidents. You are about to make people dangerous to themselves. More laws and regulations will not make something that is inherently dangerous like driving safe. All we can do is educate drivers, both truck and car drivers to the dangers and what to watch out for. You will never attain ZERO accidents. Its a pipe dream to think you can regulate the dangers of driving into extinction, it will never be possible, short of removing all motor vehicles from the road and even then there still will be dangers. So stop the studies that support these false and dangerous conclusions and get to work on educating people as how to drive around large vehicles.
Dan says
This is the biggest load of crap to come out since the candy companies paid scientists to say people who eat candy weigh less than those that do not! Need to find out who exactly did this “study” and how much they got paid for it and who paid them plus the parameters of said study..
These results would be impossible to come up with factually, there must have been a truckload of supposition going into this report..
Also, other vehicles do NOT need to get more comfortable alongside trucks as they seem to be quite comfy as it is when they run alongside you after a merge and will not let you get back in the right lane or the other side not allowing you to pass slower vehicles..
I’m thinking insurance and driverless vehicle people have joined forces in a big way for this to be said in public..
Terry says
Invasion of privacy.
Let’s put cameras everywhere. Like even in toilets.
Just plain stupid and discriminate.
This is getting way overboard with micro management.
See if CEO’S like it on their desk!!!
Ken says
On Sept. 16th I was involved in a head on collision a mile from our company’s yard, my company has the smart drive system that has driver and front facing cameras.
This showed I was doing everything right and under the speed limit at time of collision and also showed the other driver crossed the double yellow line.
I escaped with my life with only multiple contusions the other driver was a fatality, the camera is going to save me litigation so I’m conflicted to say the least.
I do support my truck driving brothers & sisters, I absolutely know where you are coming from.
Sextor LaBroy-Fellow says
Nay nay, wrong place wrong reason.
Mr AAA. It is YOU and your fellow 4 wheelers that need to be totally controlled. How dare you point the finger at us. Hmmm, got a few million shares in a camera company perchance? Couldn’t take your eyes off your Android long enough to get on the super slab? Tsk tsk tsk.
Every day, (repeat) Every day a car nearly hits us ( I did not say we nearly hit them) every day a car with usually a texting driver narrowly misses us, in any state of the union you care to name. It is an epidemic.
And YOU are not doing anything to stop it. Shame on you. Shame on you. Shame, shame, shame.
Dan R says
AAA has a long history of antagonism towards semi trucks and their drivers.
GC says
What would make truck driving safe is to teach car drivers how to drive around trucks…how about adding such training and licensing requirements…to know what to do or not do around big trucks.
Teach them how trucks work …why they need to not cut off trucks….do not drive next to a truck on hwys…pass and move away…do not linger…don’t cut off a truck especially when he is coming to a stop light…
Some guy in a van with trailer cut off my husband…hubby saw trailer tire wabbling, he applied brakes immediately, trailer lost its wheel, van and trailer rolled over, thankfully off the road, threw a huge cloud of dust, hubby wasn’t sure if he was going to rear end someone at that point, thankfully all clear on other side of dust cloud….the guy cut in front of my husband’s truck ..could have caused lots of damage, had my husband not noticed his wobbly tire
Hagsrcobra says
How is a camera watching me pick my nose going to save lives,??
Kevin says
When they put a driver facing camera in my tractor is when I clean out my belongings and hand them the keys. There would certainly be a lot less accidents if law enforcement cracked down on distracted driving on all the four wheelers on the road. If I had a dollor for every driver that was playing on the cell phone. I wouldn’t need to drive a big truck. F.T.W.
Charles Moore says
Does AAA sit and watch how the general public drives around trucks, fear is not the word that comes to mind, carelessness, distracted, and wreckless are a few better choices.If cameras are there answer maybe they should be pushing for them in the general public cars or maybe those with poor driving records, but that would cut into their membership numbers of which I just happen to be one.
Jay Stensrud says
Oh my. Safety = we’ll promote safety unless it cost time or money. I work for one of the big five LTL Companies in the US. Had Elogs for 7-1/2 years as well as LDW warning technology. Really I’m ok with that. Just so everyone understands electronic log books. I can’t make any “adjustments” to my log. However a company supervisor can and on a regular bases does. So we’ve just changed it from me drawing a line to the management drawing the line ? Wow. Huge safety improvement there. We were introduced to the braking & camera technology around the first of the year. Sadly they took my truck and shoved this new one down my throat. Safety ? Not one word of how to get this up and moving. I’m a Line Haul driver so I run at night. There I sit trying to log into this be all end all super hi tech piece of _____. After a couple of months driving gift from super minds of today. I’m sold. It’s the biggest hi tech piece of _____ I’ve ever driven. Malfunction after malfunction. It never stops. First week or so it was terrifying. Running down a two lane road and all hell breaks loose. Flashing lights in red. “Crash” indicaters screaming brakes engaging. I’m looking around as I regain control and nothing. It had decided the mountain in front of me on a sweeping corner was ???? So I’m thinking where this all kinda started. Truck Schools. We’re guilty as well (my company). Dock worker to Driver. In the minimum time allowed by law give or take in about 160 hours of “training” and I use that term loosely a person can go from never stepping in a big truck before in their life to being dispatched with a set of trailers and a tractor and head on out on their own. This is where you see my head explode like on the TV commercials. Comfortable. That’s hysterical. I’m scared _________. With the onset of automatic transmissions. Automatic braking. Lane controls. Electronic logs. Cameras facing in and out ? That’ll save lives. Let’s not stop there. I’d like camera with audio in all company cars. All company offices. All company functions. In every line of work. State Jobs. Federal jobs. Triple A jobs. Union jobs. Hospital jobs. School jobs. Banking jobs. Let’s be fair about this. All cars, pickups, motorcycles anything that comes on the road. Silly ? You bet your ___ it is. How bout hey. Let’s train drivers to become Professional Truck Drivers. Just because you plopped your behind in that seat doesn’t make you a Truck Driver. Just because you need people to drive trucks let’s not unleash these untrained and highly dangerous people loose on the roads of this great nation. I hear all day long from people regarding what they’re going to do if a situation comes up on the road. I’ve been out here a couple weeks and one thing I know for a fact is. You ain’t going to have time to put your little plan into action. It’s a split second life or death decision. Don’t panic. Plenty of time for that once everything comes to a stop. Hopefully by the grace of God you and all involved will come out alive. Be Safe my Brothers and Sisters. We have not only these “drivers” to look out for but now in our split second we need to incorporate what the trucks going to do as well. Please take a moment and say a word. Lord knows we need it. God Bless.
Richard Alan Steiner says
All drivers should have to have these cameras installed in their cars. People in cars cause the majority of accidents. I get cut off in my big rig an average of 10 to 20 times a day in traffic and at least a few times a day out on the road. Truckers need to be protected from the public! Not the other way around.
Kim says
I believe rear facing cameras are an egregious violation of privacy and mistrust those pushing for their use.
We were involved in an accident recently, and the dash cam showed it was the cars fault. Because our company had to request the data, we learned Freightliner owns the cameras and retains all rights to the video recorded. Knowing Freightliner is the recipient and owner of the recorded data aren’t you curious to know…
If the data is retained?
By whom and for how long?
Is the data sold or used in any fashion?
Is audio also collected?
Are drivers forced to relinquish their right to privacy for a job?
Are rights relinquished ever regained?
If data is a commodity, why aren’t those being filmed compensated?
Did anyone believe the official line stating a hard braking event caused the camera to record the 20 seconds prior to the event?
Why did Swift instal and then allow blocking of the rear facing cameras?
Perhaps training drivers to a standard that inspires an employers trust is a better buisness plan than randomly peeking at a 60 year old woman that sleeps in her husband t shirt. I do not consent to being recorded. I question the motives of those involved.
SHANNON REED says
I like trucking but glad I got out of it for the most part. I like my local day job driving a dump truck building logging roads. Not much highway driving, home every night. Make more money than when I was trucking and a lot less bullshit like cameras in my face or automatic breaking systems.
What a crock…
They would have to pay me 2500 a week to drive a big rig again…anything else is just a big laugh and a definite no way!
Although I do miss hauling Dept of Defense freight. It was fun the years I did it.
Aaron Olsen says
Automatic safety braking and track control has most likely killed more people than it will ever save. Problem with it is the safety system takes over and only keeps u goin straight. When it takes over on corners….u r in fer one hell of a ride. My suggestion is to train the drivers to drive there truck. Maybe run the idiots who can’t drive thru sum sort of bad weather/slide control course/steep ground training. N if they can’t cut it, “keep them off the highways”…period. Or send em out to hual logs off the Rockies in BC. The ones who can’t drive or scare and panic easy will simply git scared and quit. Too many people git rushed thru drivers courses and sent out only to hurt themselves or others. Maybe sum of the AAA peeps should giver a try one day and see for them selves. Anyone can drive big rigs from behind a desk. Knowing how yer rig handles in bad situations is the biggest safety issue out there. Yet they still keep slammin foreigners behind the wheel who Doo not know how set there own brakes, makes alot a sense don’t it?
Keep rubber side down boys!!!
Super trucker says
How about we get rid of insurance companies and make people responsible for themselves. Hey I got another idea let’s stop letting companies that will benefit from financial gain write our laws
Richard A. says
That’s a good point Super Trucker. What a concept; making people responsible for themselves. I’m so sick of the thoughtless, reckless, selfish driving that permeates the highways and cities these days. 4 wheelers might as well put a giant neon flashing middle finger on their cars, because that’s exactly what they are communicating to other road users by their driving habits.
Animal16365 says
I’m sorry. But if you get it this passed. Then if I’m involved in a accident with a car. And it’s not my fault. Then I’m going to sue the car and AAA
Bill Remington says
I have to agree with some of you. Triple AAA needs to start with the automobile, and installing cameras in them to watch how they drive their cars, vans, campers, and light trucks. it has come to the point I can’t count how many times I’ve been cut off by the four wheeler’s trying to take an exit or switching lanes. Also, when I’m in back of a four wheeler or even beside one looking do watching them fingering their cell phone driving all over the road.
Question Triple AAA. Where are these so called studies you performed, why aren’t they posted on here so we can all read them?
Marty Marsh says
More corruption, these people are doing 2 things here, they are trying to protect their own butt, and they are trying to make the money wheel spin faster. Heaven forbid we have better training and all of the money being spent to make trucks safer so you can put anyone in it, is already a boat load. Everyone has self interest in this and couldn’t really care who gets killed, they have proven that already, they have found a gold mine in the word SAFETY.
Ron says
Some of the most catastrophic accidents, not all, involve CMV’s… These are the accidents most focused on by news media… Its no wonder!!! The speeds most vehicles are running at is 5, 10, 15, 20 miles per hour higher than the posted speed limits… Speed limits posted lower for large CMV’s than those posted for smaller and personal vehicles invites the smaller vehicle operators to believe they can legally go faster than the CMV’s on all roads… Nobody wants to drive behind a large truck because of limited view ahead, road spray during inclimate weather, or for a variety of personal reasons… There are more vehicles on the road than there is law enforcement to handle the many highway problems… In saying that, the need is not cameras, auto braking systems, lane departure, and the like… The “NEED” is for speed control at all levels on every street, county road, state, federal, and interstate highway… Without that, all the other methods and gadgets are superfluous… Commercial vehicles are only part of the problem because they are not the only vehicles on the road!!!
Charles Hargrave says
Go ahead put your cameras in all trucks,there will be bare shelves in every store.Companys will be begging for drivers with little success.I had one in my truck one time and it had a piece of ducktape over it and it still was a distraction,so thanks but no thanks.
Charles Hargrave says
AAA is exactly correct it would make the roads safer because it would not be near as many trucks on the road due to a shortage in drivers.Simply put if you want us to haul your precious freight then leave us the hell alone!!!
Brandon says
If you’re going to protect the drivers from themselves by putting the camera facing the driver, why don’t you also protect the drivers by having cameras facing the road?
A four-wheeler made an improper lane change and hit my truck. Thankfully, I had two witnesses pulled over and give statements. But who knows what would have happened if they weren’t there? How about rear facing cameras on the rear of every trailer? Aren’t backing related incidents still the number one cause of property damage in this industry?
Rob says
More tech is just more distraction to the driver.. more accidents… more deaths… and is frankly retarded to think that a driver facing camera is going to prevent an accident, its just more intrusion into our lives.. privacy is a huge issue for us drivers were always in the public eye even as we sleep. Our truck, our home, and job are always visible.. take away stressors such as distractive and destructive technologies that are foisted upon those who have lives to protect… its only common sense that we need, not tech..
David Petrakos says
AAA (or any other private entity) shall not have the right to impose regulations on an industry like trucking for their own data collection.
If they want this data, let them exercise it on their own members.
Leave the 2nd most regulated deregulated industry alone!