Laptop use implicated in fatal New York truck accident

State police in New York are looking into whether a wrongful death truck accident on December 12 was caused by the driver's attention being diverted by an on-board lap top computer.  They have seized the driver's lap top for further analysis.

Increasing numbers of trucking companies are equipping their trucks with laptop computers.  There are a number of good business reasons for this.  They allow better communication with the drivers, allow better tracking of shipments and expenses, allow electronic tracking of hours of service, and help drivers better plan routes so as to avoid road construction or bad traffic so as to minimize travel time and fuel costs.

However, trucking companies need to be aware of the risks that are associated with providing drivers with on-board lap tops.  I am not aware of any studies that directly address the extent to which lap top use while driving increases accident risk, but a study from Virginia Tech showed that truck drivers who texted while driving were approximately 23 times more likely to get into an accident.

Trucking companies which provide lap tops to drivers should equip them with an interlock which prevents their use while the truck is in gear.  The other alternative to this is to develop and rigorously enforce a policy which prohibits the use of lap tops while driving.  Without such limitations on usage, distracted driving truck accidents are likely to increase due to lap top usage.