Veronica Rohrmoser // Special Contributor
SYRACUSE, NY – Early reports surrounding the recent Megabus crash said the driver may have been distracted by his GPS device. But investigators are now saying that might not be the case. The incident has sparked much debate regarding the safety of GPS systems. But both sides say using a GPS is all about being responsible.
Vince Massenzio has been driving taxis for more than 30 years. He said he uses a GPS every day – so far, with no accidents.
“Listening is the key,” said Massenzio. “You don’t look at the GPS. It’s like trying to watch TV while you’re driving. It’s absolutely ludicrous.”
But Jim Hunter of Syracuse is a veteran taxi driver who has never owned a GPS device.
“I usually just use my maps,” said Hunter. “My head is my GPS.”
Hunter said it is not the technology that is to blame “because people aren’t concentrating. Either you’re concentrating on your driving or you’re concentrating on your gab-about…your gossip.”
Megabus Prompts Thoughts on Change
The Megabus crashed into the Onondaga Lake Parkway bridge on September 11, 2010. Four people died in the crash and many others were injured. The driver said he was lost looking for the Regional Transportation Center and was listening to his GPS at the time of the accident.
Onondaga County Sheriff’s Deputy Herb Wiggins said investigators are not ready to conclude that the device caused the crash. He said many people are guilty of misusing a GPS, and that could lead to changes in the future.
“There might come a time…where lawmakers say, ‘That’s it, no more GPS,’ if people can’t follow the rules of the road and listen to their GPS at the same time,” said Wiggins.
And it seems like that project may already be in motion. The Obama Administration hosted a second summit on distracted driving today focusing on ways to reduce the nation-wide issue.
Distracted Driver Crackdown
The Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office will once again team up with Syracuse and State Police to crackdown on distracted driving in October. Law enforcement will patrol streets and highways looking for distracted drivers and those using electronic devices illegally.
Deputy Wiggins said using a GPS is not illegal, but the way drivers use them can lead to a ticket.
“As far as operating a GPS goes, as long as it’s not in the person’s hand during operation, there are no laws against it,” said Wiggins.
This will be the third of four 10-day crackdowns conducted by area law enforcement. Previous crackdowns resulted in officers and deputies writing more than 4,500 tickets for distracted driving.
Thirty states and the District of Columbia prohibit drivers from texting behind the wheel; eight states have passed laws barring drivers from using handheld cell phones. The state of New York prohibits both. The Associated Press reports nearly 5,500 people were killed last year in distracted-driving crashes.
“Every time someone takes their focus off the road — even if it’s just for a moment — they put their lives and the lives of others in danger,” said Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.
Deputy Wiggins said the best way to avoid any distractions is to take care of everything before getting on the road.
“Before you even pull out, just go ahead and program your GPS to the destination that you need, and then drive,” said Wiggins.
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