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Truckers' Nav Systems as Bad as Driving While Texting

People continue to text message and use other portable devices while driving, despite knowing what a dangerous habit it can be. Just look out your window while rolling down the interstate, and you'll see that businessman glued to his BlackBerry or a teenage girl texting away. But glance a little higher, and you might behold an even scarier sight.

Truck drivers rely heavily on electronic devices ranging from computers to GPS systems to complete their jobs in a timely fashion. However, The New York Times reports that many lawmakers are pushing for such devices to be banned because of the dangers involved with distracted driving.

A recent study by Virginia Tech's Transportation Institute found that truckers who used onboard computers while driving were ten times as likely to wreck. For their part, truckers argue that a dash-mounted computer monitor with a keyboard in the lap is safer to use than an iPhone or similar device because it requires "less concentration." Many of the devices feature a warning to pull over before using, but many truckers simply ignore it due to time constraints. Sure, the argument may make financial sense, but it's not a particularly comforting thought when you're cruising down the highway next to an 18-wheeler.

Let's hope lawmakers decide on regulations and trucking companies agree when they meet in Washington on Wednesday for the Transportation Department's conference on distracted driving. After all, Jerry Reed didn't need all those fancy, shmancy gadgets. [From: The New York Times]

Tags: computer, danger, driving, dwt, gps, legislation, safety, texting, top, travel, trucking

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