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Are “Safety Trucks” Really Going to Save the Highways?

by Jana Ritter - Published: 7/06/2015

In June, Samsung introduced its “Safety Truck” to the world and the transparent truck concept with its slick looking LCD screen immediately went viral. Poised to be the best potential lifesaver of the future, Samsung put its electronic mastery to work and found a way to make the relatively simple “Safety Truck” concept into a real life thing. By sticking a camera on the front of a lorry and then hooking it up to a screen on the back, the truck essentially becomes ‘transparent’, allowing motorists to see the road ahead in order pass big trucks much more safely.

                                                       Samsung Safety Truck

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But the genius idea that got everyone excited and many truck drivers on board during its last month debut, is now being scrutinized for the possible holes in the reality of its ability to make our highways safer. The first logical question that many want to know is why with today’s technology, hasn’t this been done before?The fact is that in 2009, Moscow based company, Art Lebdevev, introduced the exact same concept in, “Transparentius,” a truck designed to function just like Samsung’s Safety Truck. However, the potential problems became evident immediately around the uncertainty as to whether or not the technology would work in low light environments, in adverse weather conditions or whether it could cope with sun glare etc.

While Samsung has since stepped in with its experience with outdoor technology (such as its infamous screens in Times Square) and stepped up the game with the “Safety Truck” having already passed testing in Argentina, the specifics of how well it really works have yet to be released. But even if the “Safety Truck” does end up being all that, some have raised another valid concern about economically viable it will be for the industry to invest in such technology. Especially considering whether or not the cost would balance out with the number of fatal collisions reduced by these trucks. While the camera would be a relatively cheap investment, installing the four required large displays on each truck would be a major investment for trucking companies, with no real financial benefit - as of yet. Would companies be forced to recoup the costs with advertising dollars? And that raises the question of whether these giant screens would actually be safer or simply more distracting to drivers?

                                                       Safety Truck Night Mode 

Of course another crucial concern that has been raised, is how accurately do these screen represent the actual distance of oncoming cars? How well would motorists be able to rely on the screens in order make their own accurate judgements of timing and speed? Some critics have also questioned whether certain drivers would only be encouraged to make even riskier attempts at passing large sized vehicle on the highways. Not to mention the question of whether the “Safety Truck” would even be really necessary on highways with multiple lanes.

So less than a month after the “Safety Truck” concept makes it widely applauded debut, critics are already driving it down and paving the way for the next, technological breakthrough - Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) communication systems. Stay tuned…


Martin Webster
Martin Webster
Wait till someone runs up the back of it because they "didn't realize there was a truck there" lol
Trucking Unlimited
Trucking Unlimited
Ha ha!
Thomas Steensma
Thomas Steensma
Twrrible idea, truckers already got enough shit to deal with, how bout they train them four wheelers to calm down and not be jackasses around big trucks
Jim Ragan
Jim Ragan
No people will still tailgate us drivers. This just gives them more of an excuse when they get into an accident dealing with truck drivers
Joseph Scott Jr.
Joseph Scott Jr.
More weight and electronics added to trucks?
Cliff Norris
Cliff Norris
Regardless there will always be dumbass drivers.
Samuel Byler
Samuel Byler
Its going to make things worst...until drivers take personal responsibility for their actions and make sure they do not make a move until everything is clear nothing will get better....I think speed limits for cars and trucks should b the same.....when u have speed limits for truck slower then cars it causes car drivers to hate the slow trucks and subconsciously as soon as they see a truck their first inclination is to pass.....this happened to me in MI the other week...I was slowing down for an ambulance coming towards me and a car behind me was traveling at a much higher speed than I was....and as I can only imagine...when they saw me probably pick up speed..and then suddenly realized what was going on...they lost control of their car and went head on into the ambulance.
Jim Kratzer
Jim Kratzer
Wonder what the screen will show when that June bug gets a bullseye on the camera lens......and will the four wheeler tailgating the truck flinch and run off the road?
Dwayne Butterfield
Dwayne Butterfield
Wouldn't it distract drivers
Brian Hays
Brian Hays
Electronic billboards YOUR AD HERE
Rob-Kris Bowersock
Rob-Kris Bowersock
The cost,winter????
Willie Howard
Willie Howard
Ditto all above.
Rogue Diesel
Rogue Diesel
Never work on flatbeds or tankers
Rick Mitchell
Rick Mitchell
It will cause more headons because of the me first factor. No depth perception
Cody Fisher
Cody Fisher
Till some jackass figures out its a really big TV n starts jacking tgem
Jim Winkler
Jim Winkler
No - need a live person in control
David Wilmot
David Wilmot
One of the things I have noticed in the 40+ years of driving, as cars have gotten 'safer' seatbelts, airbags, etc. Drivers have simply got dumber, less attentive, take more chances and are more aggressive.
Roxann Brousseau
Roxann Brousseau
Trucks don't need to be safer, the rest of traffic does.
Michael Bossert
Michael Bossert
Nay
Troy Carnahan
Troy Carnahan
Who's going to be liable when somebody steps out to pass and gets in a head on because they can't anticipate the oncoming traffics speed, or they can't see clearly because the screen or camera are dirty? Is the car still at fault? Or is this "safety" device going to cause the truck insurance to pay. That's been my question all along.
Jason Stearns
Jason Stearns
Won't really work at all and most of all it'll just be another thing on our trucks that dot could and would ticket for...ie: something is broke,a flicker,not visible and so on. Plus them 4 wheelers already have enough distractions...why add an even bigger one? It would be a kind of target
Juan Campos
Juan Campos
No way its going 2 be hell on wheels but go on its an easy way 2 reduce population in the USA
Paul Kirby
Paul Kirby
If the cars had a correct following distance there wouldnt be an issue !!! Or any motorist for that matter
Eric Ballou
Eric Ballou
Well I'm not sure what a safety truck is. why don't we try to make our drivers behind that will be safe. I am a driver of almost 30 years. and our new generation is f***** up
David Burgeson
David Burgeson
Dumb!!!!
Mark Owens
Mark Owens
Lmao