If you look at some of the automobiles that are being made
today, you may not help but wonder how far the innovation can go. Thinking
about cars that have sensors, cameras and a birds-eye view would seem
impossible a couple of decades ago.
Nowadays, packages such as these are becoming the staple equipment that most
cars come with. So, it’s not really a surprise if someone started to think
about the future of cars.
Will vehicles be able to fly in a couple of years? Or will
they not have to depend on fossil fuels to function? Will they be able to
respond to voice commands of drivers?
Regardless of which way the market goes, however, it’s best we focus on the
present technology. It has both a positive side and a negative side. For
example, the fact that more technology is being innovated is amazing in regards
to staying up with the modern times.
However, if one was to look at it from a school bus driver’s perspective, it’s
difficult to neglect the possible distractions that come with stereos and
infotainment centers. BusPatrol shares the following ways in which technology
can help or hinder the driving experience.
Safety and Reliability
Most proponents of technological evolution jumps right ahead to safety when talking about the perks that come with the new vehicle technology. In fact, the tools we mentioned before all share a single purpose; keeping the driver and passenger safe from accidents.
This goal is often achieved by
helping the driver overcome problems that relate to a driver’s experience or
not being able to see the road. BusPatrol emphasizes the importance of vision through their smart school buses by installing cameras with active
monitoring of various angles around and within the vehicle.
Aside from safety, modern technology also allows a car to have an outstanding
life span. Think about how some of the newer car models can go about diagnosing
or preventing an issue. In most cases, all mechanics have to do is hook up a
diagnostic device to the computer of the vehicle.
Once that’s done, the problem shows itself in code form. That code is then
researched in order to see how the problem can be repaired. Upgrades like this
have made it possible to find underlying issues a lot more swiftly and
effectively.
Distracted Driving
One of the most obvious issues that’s tied to all forms of technological innovations is distracted driving. Take a moment to think about how many people adjust gadgets such as voice-powered GPS systems and Bluetooth devices.
Fiddling around with these as you drive significantly increases your risk of being distracted and becoming a danger to yourself and other drivers. Luckily, a lot of driver’s education courses are built with factors like this in mind. This gives people a sense of formal training before they’re given their license. Bus Patrol’s smart buses feature an intelligent stop arm with built in camera to help encourage drivers to pay attention around a stopped school bus as well as reprimand those who do not stop.
Training Drivers Becomes Less Significant
As the evolution of vehicle technology progresses, the more likely the need for a driver becomes overlooked. In fact, there are a few vehicles today that are able to park themselves without the aid of a driver. At first glance, a feature like this seems like a perfect solution for people who aren’t that great at parking.
In reality, however, receiving constant help with driving causes people to turn their backs to some of the aspects of driver safety training. Eventually, this might become a very serious problem as drivers like this won’t be eligible to drive in public in a vehicle that doesn’t include this assistance.
Think about it this way; say someone needs to park their vehicle in a tight space and they end up losing access to their rear-view camera. If the driver has relied only on that camera, it can cause a massive problem if it starts to malfunction.
Final Thoughts
Technology has made vehicles more advanced than ever before. However, despite the advantages that come with it, there are also a lot of disadvantages. It’s important that you stay vigilant as a driver, no matter what car you drive.