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Racing ranks right up there with baseball, hot dogs, and apple pie as an undisputed piece of Americana for many parts of the country. But unfortunately, the race itself often does raise disputes. Who crossed the finish line first? Did boat number three cross out of his lane? Questions like these have traditionally been answered by officials who, admittedly, sometimes don’t see the true picture. Bad calls leave frustrated fans and even more frustrated participants. But GPS tracking has begun to change all that.

The devices have already been implemented in some NASCAR races,  and boating events across the country have begun using them as well to help officials make better calls and put an end to disputed races. As an added bonus, fans can go online to see precisely where their favored contestant is at any given point in the race, how fast it is going, and who is currently leading the pack.
As GPS tracking becomes more and more accurate, such uses will become more commonplace. They’re even being considered as a possible solution to thornier problems, such as the Mexican trucking dispute. While many factors will play into administrative decisions regarding free access by Mexican truckers, one problem has been the inability to ensure that drivers perform their stated jobs safely. Concerns include possible drug carriers, dangerous driving, and operating in unauthorized areas. If each driver were required to register and carry a GPS tracking device, however, officials could monitor driving habits such as speed, swerving, and idle times as well as miles driven and specific routes taken.
While the Mexican trucking dispute remains highly sensitive due to the possibility of American truckers losing jobs to foreign workers, the fact remains that equipping each truck and driver remotely could bring some level of accountability to an otherwise difficult to monitor profession. Regardless of the final decision, however, the capabilities of GPS tracking both on the race course and in the work force will enable decision-makers to make tough calls with confidence. And while dedicated fans may still argue with the official over a close call, at least that official will be able to support his decision with hard data, effectively ending the disputes that have plagued American race courses throughout the history of racing. And perhaps the devices will bring a measure of stability to political decisions and governmental policies as well.

Article Written by Lynetta Bowen