First Texting, Now GPS

According to New York State Gov. David Paterson, it's time to add truckers, who might be following GPS-enabled map systems, to texting drivers as the latest high-tech road hazard.

Last week, Paterson introduced legislation to confiscate trucks whose GPS systems guide them onto roads that have bridges too low for their trucks. This happens so often in New York it amounts to an epidemic, according to the governor and Westchester County Executive Andrew Spano.

Paterson told a press conference that during the past 15 years about 1,400 trucks have experienced an unfortunate encounter with a bridge and said the New York State Transportation Department estimated 81 percent of the bridge strikes resulted from trucks equipped with GPS mapping systems.

"Every week we hear of another truck striking a bridge on our parkways," Spano said. "Over the weekend there were two more of these accidents. So far, no one has been injured. But it's only a matter of time before someone is killed or a truck carrying chemicals or explosives hits a bridge."

Paterson and Spano explained that the accidents come about because truckers install GPS map systems meant for the family buggy into their big rigs, which direct trucks down roads meant for cars, not trucks. They want truckers to use enhanced GPS map systems that have maps that delineate low bridges.

Remember those halcyon days when the only technology in a truck was a CB radio and Rubber Duck could have broadcasted a low bridge voice alert to the convoy?