Refusing to drive a truck with serious safety issues.

I think they are making it mandatory standard equipment so as you drive, and make reports of issues, the engineers can fine tune before fully automated self driving is released. It may not happen for 50 years, maybe it’ll begin in 10. Most don’t think it will ever happen but if I told you 30 years ago EVERYONE will have palm sized computers we can carry in our pockets and speak commands to in order to call/FaceTime someone on the other side of the planet, take pictures, record and send locations, etc you’d say that’ll never happen. But here we are. The responsible drivers will suffer as guinea pigs but those that aren’t may have their ### saved and potential lives. Maybe now would be a good time to look into the wrecker/rotator bidness.

 

All of that automated system crap fails when you head to the north with it. My uncle bought 5 brand new GMC pickups for his company. Well he ditched one while it was just days old because it slammed on the brakes in an icy turn. What ensued was a legal battle with GM, who finally took them back, and refunded his money. He replaced them with Rams.

 

That is a major safety issue anything that can cause harm to you or other road users should automatically mean the truck should be taken off the road to fix the issue. You have every right to refuse to drive a vehicle that presents a risk to yourself and other road users. Perhaps the threat of massive law suits if something potentially were to happen may sway the thinking of some of your employers and this is the point I would try and get across to them..

 

That’s why I don’t run cruise control anymore. Our trucks are governed low anyhow so my foot is the cruise control. Fuel pedal overrides the collision avoidance system on the t680s.

 

Here is the issue with any of these systems.
They work best when they are brand new, and all of the parts of the systems are brand new. Brakes, Tires, drums, adjustment, wiring.
As time goes on, various parts of the system, excessive clearances in the braking system( automatic slack adjusters not working, imagine that) corroded wiring that give intermittent signals, poorly trained mechanics who are unable to diagnose and repair these systems all contribute to them working erratically.

But here is by far the biggest issue. In order for any of these braking systems to work as designed, all 10 wheel ends have to be up to spec.
Well, we know from experience the tractor may get some attention occasionally in a maintenance program, but the trailers? So the brakes may work great on the tractor, but someone has totally neglected the trailer. Now you have an uncontrollable mess on your hands.

Here is where experience would have been the deciding factor. But the industry and government has decided that is not needed, we will replace experience with technology.

Me? I take the back roads whenever possible.

 

Find another company that cares about your safety and doesn't have that dangerous equipment installed

 

My 2019 Volvo has been fairly decent at not engaging the autobrake stuff erroneously. But, it hasn't been perfect either. I personally disagree with having these systems in place to begin with.
I have found that my pedal will override the auto braking. But, in ice and snow that may not be enough to prevent creating dangerous situations. IDK, I'm fairly timid at driving in ice and snow anyway. So, basically if the roads are in such poor quality conditions that an autobrake event could create a serious problem, chances are I'm already parked somewhere waiting things out till the roads improve. But, I do have the luxury of being able to park it like that. Many don't
I see this as the same basic issues that'll confront auto driving trucks. The big problem that will have the most significant problems isn't the technology so much as the legal, tort, issues raised when bad things envariably happen. Who's gonna end up with the legal and financial responsibility? The programmers, the manufacturer, or the company who owns the truck?
I certainly agree with those suggesting make good paper trails of these erroneous events. Definitely could end up making a good difference in the long run. My opinion anyway.

 

I have a lady friend that hauls meat out of Green Bay hers pos system put her in a ditch on dry roads thank god she was mt , how does the OEMs get away selling a dangerous product.
The skid marks and cameras saved her , poor thing.

 

Bendix lobbies congress to push for automatic braking in the name of safety.