Opinion: Driver Training Essential to Make Technology Work

By Michael Coyle

I read with some surprise the column in your Jan. 21 issue, titled “Artificial Intelligence No Substitute for Judgment,” by Terry Klenske, president of Dalton Trucking Inc. in Fontana, Calif. Although I agree with the writer’s fundamental premise that technology alone will not improve safety, I feel compelled to challenge some of his conclusions and to offer a solution to all fleet owners.

My company designs and builds electronic obstacle-detection and collision-avoidance systems, and we sell directly to truck fleets. Although Mr. Klenske indicates that his company has had a bad early experience using technology to improve safety, I can tell you that his experience is a statistical aberration. The overwhelming preponderance of data, from fleets large and small, demonstrates that the installation of sensor-based safety systems results in a significant reduction in accident frequency. The typical fleet experience is a reduction in accident frequency of between 25% and 75%.

In his column, Mr. Klenske admits that his sample is too small to draw meaningful conclusions. That does not stop him from drawing some very damning and definitive conclusions about the failure of the radar-based collision-avoidance equipment his fleet uses to prevent accidents. A closer examination of the Dalton Trucking data is revealing. Mr. Klenske said his company has had two accidents with its trucks equipped with radar systems, for an accident rate of 13.3%. If I work backward from the data, this must mean that out of a fleet of 200 trucks, Dalton has equipped 15 with radar safety systems. Based on this small sample Mr. Klenske has concluded, in his words, that “electrical gadgets” and “gimmicks” don’t work. Early in my engineering career I learned the hard way not to draw conclusions from small samples. A quick test reveals that there is no statistical difference between the accident rates of the radar-equipped and the non-equipped trucks at Dalton Trucking. Although at first glance it appears as if the radar-equipped trucks have a higher accident rate, the sample size is just too small to statistically draw that conclusion.

Nevertheless, Mr. Klenske paid a lot of money for a sophisticated radar system and is still having accidents. Why? The answer lies in the only conclusion in his article with which I agree: No amount of technology will ever substitute completely for the judgment and skill of properly trained and alert drivers. As technology is deployed to solve the toughest safety problems facing the trucking industry, good driver training that covers the capabilities and limitations of the safety systems is absolutely essential. It is essential that drivers understand how the system works. It is essential to raise the overall level of safety awareness and driver acceptance. Additionally, companies like mine get valuable feedback from drivers on how to improve the systems. It would be irresponsible and counterproductive to give drivers a safety tool and not teach them how to use it.

According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 35% of all fatalities involving a car and a truck happen in one of four blind spots around the truck. If affordable technology exists to allow the driver to “see” into those blind spots, why wouldn’t we put it on every truck? Forward-looking radar systems are designed to give the driver the extra split second of warning time that often makes the difference in avoiding a catastrophic accident. Why wouldn’t we give the drivers every advantage we can?

Mr. Klenske asserts that these safety systems only make drivers more aggressive. My assertion is that given time and continued commitment, the Dalton Trucking record will improve and Mr. Klenske’s investment in technology will pay off.

Regarding Mr. Klenske’s idea to allow the logistical efficiency of bigger, longer and heavier trucks to improve safety, the data suggest otherwise. Of the 4,930 large truck fatalities in 2000, 75% involved combination trucks. These vehicles have more and larger blind spots, take longer to stop at

ny speed and are harder to maneuver, especially in panic situations. I do not agree this will improve safety on the highways.

The trucking industry has made great strides in improving safety. Our industry has its detractors, but for the number of miles our trucks cover our drivers are far safer than the general population. Still, we all agree we must continue to improve on safety to save lives, property and money.

Technology enhances safe practices; it does not replace them.

The writer is president of Transportation Safety Technologies Inc., Indianapolis, which supplies safety and control products for commercial transportation markets.

This story appeared in the Feb. 18 print edition of Transport Topics. Subscribe today.