Dec 06, 21
This Day in History
Innovation paves to way to new safety features
Contributor: Brian Pachtman, RWR Insurance
Ray Harroun: A pioneer in vehicle safety
January 12, 1879. What significance does this day hold for anyone? The fact is that it was an ordinary day for most, but not here in our great state of Pennsylvania and certainly not for Russell LaFayette Harroun and Lucy A. Halliday. No, this was the day that Lucy would give birth to a baby boy that would one day make history and help to shape all of our lives.
Who is this historic figure? None other than Ray Harroun, the winner of the 1911 Indianapolis 500. Yes, 109 years ago, Ray would not only win the race but, more importantly to an insurance company, would controversially kick out the ride-along mechanic and replace him with what we now call a rear-view mirror. While Elmer Berger is commonly credited as the inventor of this device with his patent in 1921, we would still like to give a nod to Ray for his ingenuity 10 years prior to this patent.
Modern-day safety measures in commercial trucking
Today, rear-view mirrors are considered so important to safety that they are required by law. They have saved countless lives by preventing accidents and have set the stage for some exciting new technologies that are fast becoming standard equipment. A study by AAA claims that new safety technology could help to prevent over 70,000 collisions per year, which means fewer injuries and better uptime for your business.
Some of the latest safety equipment on commercial trucks include:
- Adaptive Cruise Control
- Highway Departure Warning and Braking
- Lane Departure Warning Systems
- Automatic Emergency Braking
- Digital Mirror Technology
- Video-based Onboard Safety Monitoring Systems
- Electronic Stability Control
- Air Disc Brakes
- Remote Mechanical Monitoring
- Vehicle Remote Diagnostics
All of these features are designed to decrease accidents and assist the operator of the equipment to have better control over the vehicle and, like Ray Harroun's rearview mirror, avoid collisions to finish the race!
Trucking safety: A top priority of TTT & RWR
When you buy a used truck from TruckTractorTrailer.com , consider looking for a truck with some of these options. Safety is the top priority when you are on the road. At RWR Insurance , we are committed to the safety of our clients and those sharing the highway with you. It’s the service and safety changes we offer that can really impact the insured. We keep a claims consultant on staff as well as certified fleet safety managers for your benefit. We understand the best insurance policy is the one you never have to use.
Stay safe and keep on truckin'!
