Rocky Mountain Tracking

Daily GPS News

Serious Accident in Mobile, Alabama, Remains a Mystery

July 5th, 2011

In Mobile, Alabama, an accident recently occurred which left passersby gaping in shock. A police cruiser approaching a red light shot through the intersection, colliding with two vehicles and left five people seriously injured. Following this accident, police tried to piece together the scenario. Apparently, the officer at fault was on call, although witnesses made it clear that they heard no sirens and saw no lights.

How a pickup truck ended up in a field far from the intersection, however, is still a mystery. What really happened?

Mobile police have made it clear that they intend to use every means possible to discover the truth about the circumstances surrounding this accident. Currently, their greatest hope is that the information provided by the GPS tracking device on the police cruiser will shed light on the situation. According to one officer, Chris Levy, this device can yield valuable data concerning the vehicle’s speed, location, and distance.

GPS tracking is the wave of the future when it comes to solving fuzzy accident cases. In the Mobile case, there are many questions yet to be answered. Why didn’t the officer turn on his siren? Why did he speed through a red light?

How were the other vehicles involved? Once officials have analyzed the information provided by the cruiser’s tracker, they will likely be able to start answering these difficult questions. The facts do not lie, and they can bring the truth to light.

Article Written by Janice Grover

GPS Causing Accidents?

October 19th, 2009

by James Neely, freelance writer: click | HERE | to check out GPS products from Rocky Mountain Tracking

In the state of New York, there is a move afoot to increase laws that seek to penalize truck drivers for relying on GPS Navigation systems that point them toward unconventional routes which contain low underpasses which are then struck by the large rigs.

GPS & Accidents

Is it a legitimate problem or one perpetuated by fear-mongering? Most major trucking companies have extensive routing and fleet management systems in use and on-board of each truck which helps keep trucks on acceptable routes. Trucking advocates say that the proposed solution to require them to purchase new and enhanced devices places an undue burden on the trucking firms.

First, a comment: GPS Tracking units do not cause accidents; poor driving and planning are the root cause of those incidents.

Second, GPS Tracking systems stand on their own merits and have proven themselves to be very valuable to businesses and individuals when used in the correct way.

Tracking of Drivers and routes

GPS Tracking systems are used in fleet operations that help those businesses to keep track of a large amount of vehicles in operations at the same time.

Tracking for Safety

GPS Tracking devices help drivers toe the line on safe driving practices because they know that their actions are being monitored and they will be held accountable.

Tracking for Cost Savings

Implementing GPS Tracking helps a business save money by closely monitoring vehicle usage. These units help to ensure that vehicles are not abused and used for unauthorized purposes which keep costs lower.

Tracking for Insurance Savings

Many insurance companies will reduce premiums when GPS Tracking units are installed and used on vehicles that they insure. This keeps their risk low by helping to recover stolen items quickly.

GPS Tracking is a tool, just like any other that is used to accomplish a specific purpose. When it is used correctly, a business or organization benefits greatly. When misused or used with inadequate planning or dependence, then things like accidents can happen. That is why you need competent policies in place to help you make sure that you are getting the most out of GPS Tracking devices.

Rocking Mountain Tracking has the best line-up of GPS Tracking Device to meet any need. Take a look at their products and options for the best fit for your business. You will find knowledgeable sales persons in helping you get the best unit to meet your requirements.

Off Road Safety

March 29th, 2009

By Harriette Halepis

As any off-road enthusiast knows, the thrills that can be experienced when off-road driving are incomparable. With the thrill, of course, comes the risk. Driving off-road is obviously a lot riskier than driving on the highway. The different types of terrain involved, the unpredictability of the drive, and the relative remoteness of off-road locales increase the risk of serious injury significantly.

Hopefully, those who take off-road driving seriously have looked into safety precautions that should be taken. For instance, it is highly recommended to lower your tire pressure before off-road driving, as this increases your traction. It’s also crucial that you drive straight. Driving diagonally, especially on bumpy terrain or down hills, increases the risk of a rollover significantly. An oft-overlooked step, but one which can save your life, is investing in a GPS system for your off-road vehicle.

GPS is not expensive, and it provides a number of safety measures. For instance, if you get lost without a GPS system, then you are stuck trying to find your way back to main roads – in difficult and unfamiliar terrain, no less! If the same unfortunate predicament occurs when you have a GPS system installed in your car, however, then the situation is much less dire. You simply look at the GPS system, figure out where you are, and then find the closest road. Having a bird’s eye view of your surroundings when you are lost is helpful. However, there is a much more serious situation in which a GPS tracking system can help significantly: in the case of an accident.

If you have a rollover while in an off-road truck, you should instantly call emergency response. However, the question will be asked: “Where are you?” If you cannot answer this question, then it becomes much more difficult for you to receive quick help in the case of an emergency. Still, if you are able to provide the latitude and longitude of your location to the emergency response, then you have bought a significant amount of time. Those extra few minutes, in some situations, can be the difference between life and death. Putting some cash towards a GPS system in your off-road vehicle is an investment which will reap dividends in the most valuable asset available: your life. The best thing you can do while off-road truck driving is to minimize risk as much as possible. A GPS system serves just that purpose.

Maritime Use of GPS Tracking is Invaluable

March 29th, 2009

By James Neely

GPS for Boats All large boats and ships are equipped with GPS tracking systems that can navigate the vessels in bright sunshine, dark nights or in blinding storms. A good example of this is the large barges that traverse the waters of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers. If it were not for these systems, the incidents of accidents would be much higher.

But, what about smaller watercraft? These do not have mandatory installations of GPS tracking systems. That is why the owners and operators must consider these as a primary and necessary purchase. Not only for personal pleasure craft, but for smaller business boats as well.

Helps recover in case of theft. The incidents of theft are on the rise. As the economy falters, the need to protect assets and be able to recover them quickly is not an option. Law enforcement agencies are beset with cases, both new and old which bog them down and keep them from being able to apply the needed attention to finding perpetrators of crimes both large and small. The prospect of becoming a number on a file in a file cabinet looms large.

But, with a GPS tracking system, that need not be the case. You can pinpoint the location of a boat and then supply that information to the authorities so that you can get on with your business or pleasure. Your insurance company will be appreciative as well. A recovered asset can save them money by not having to pay for the full cost of replacement. In addition, you can realize lower premiums as well.

Provides time and distance verification. If you have a small pleasure boat operation, you can provide information on the where and when questions about your trips. Those who book cruises are interested mainly for timing purposes. How long and how far will probably be the first questions about your trips. With this system, you can provide factual data along with an invoice to help validate charges to customers. It provides a nice touch to your billing system and will be appreciated by clients as well.

This is another shining example of how a GPS tracking system can benefit you. The more you know, the more you will be convinced that a small investment of a few hundred dollars now can save many thousands later down the road. And there is no price too great for the peace of mind that it can bring as well. For more information about GPS, call Rocky Mountain Tracking, Inc. at 1-888-242-0500.

Mandatory GPS Tracking of Professional Vehicles Will Improve Safety on Highways

March 26th, 2009

By Greg Bartlett

www.RMTracking.com

It seems that a week doesn’t go by without an accident involving an 18-wheeler making the headlines. The drivers of these trucks, as well as other professional drivers, are often very skilled and have years of experience; however, in a failing economy, many are forced to take on loads for less money or to make more deliveries in order to make ends meet. GPS tracking of professional vehicles would improve highway safety by enforcing the pre-existing laws and regulations governing how far and for how long a driver may operate his/her vehicle.

This is not to say that the driver’s of these vehicles are at fault for the accidents. Often it is the average commuter who is not paying attention and cut off these road behemoths. The wide-spread institution of GPS vehicle tracking devices would help to ensure that the drivers of these rigs are fully alert and better able to respond to their surroundings and the often erratic behaviors of drivers. The laws that are in place are effective, but too many drivers are forced to carry “back-up” logs when time is short.

These forged logs are used to make up time lost due to repairs, or when a driver cannot afford to abide by the laws. As the number of hired drivers has gone up, more and more these are used because the owners of delivery companies are unwilling to pay hourly rates and force the drivers to break the law in order to make unrealistic delivery times. So not only would we be protecting the safety of all road users, we would also be protecting the rights of these workers who often go unnoticed and are rarely unionized.

Under the current system, if a driver appears to be tired or their log book shows that they have driven for too long they can be ordered to rest for an eight hour period before they are allowed to travel again. GPS tracking would simply give investigating officers more accurate information to make their decisions. It would still be within their discretion to issue a ticket or a warning.

This would be a simple program to implement, and one that would not financially hurt delivery companies too badly. In fact, the cost of monitoring their vehicles may be offset by the savings in insurance they receive.

If you agree that professional vehicles should be tracked to improve highway safety write your congressional representative and tell them. If enough of us make enough noise this use for GPS fleet tracking could eventually be passed into law.

Providing Evidence in a Vehicle Accident

March 25th, 2009

By James Neely

Have you ever been involved in a vehicular accident in which there was a dispute surrounding the details about who was at fault and how fast the vehicles were travelling? If you have, then you realize how invaluable it would have been to be able to substantiate your position with irrefutable evidence. You can with a GPS tracking system installed on your vehicle.

GPS Reports In a court of law, evidence can be entered when it is obtained from many sources including eye witnesses. But what if there is more than one witness and their testimonies are inconclusive or in conflict? It makes your case more difficult to prove. But, if there are no witnesses then you could be left without a witness to validate your defense.

A GPS car tracking device provides you the following evidentiary information that can help you in your court case.

Location. Where was your vehicle? A GPS tracking device can pin-point the exact location to within several feet. And those few feet can mean the difference between being in the right, or wrong. When it comes to being able to see whether or not you were in your own lane, the cost becomes a non-issue.

Time. What time was your vehicle at the location? Timing is critical in an accident especially given the speeds on our streets and roads. It means the difference between placing you in an intersection or a few feet before or beyond it.

Direction. Which way were you travelling when the accident occurred? Does the opposition maintain that you were going south when you were really going east? Or, even more importantly, was your vehicle going straight through an intersection or were you turning at the time?

Speed. Even radar units can fail if they are not properly maintained. And that goes for the stationary units that are being used at intersections and along busy highways. A GPS tracking system provides accurate speed data to refute faulty equipment or down-right fabrications in an effort to convict you in error.

All of this can save you not only money in any judgments against you, but you can also save money on your insurance as well. This translates into you keeping more of your money and who does not need that these days.

Investigate the benefits of a GPS car tracker today and make sure you are covered with an extra measure of protection while you are driving. You will not regret it.

GPS is Much More than Navigation

March 22nd, 2009

By Greg Bartlett

Almost everyone is familiar with the onboard GPS navigation systems being marketed for vehicles. These systems are able to provide drivers with real time turn by turn directions to get from point A to point B. What many people may not realize is that GPS has many other uses in a vehicle. GPS tracking is much more than simply navigation.

GPS technology is now being used to protect cars and trucks. Devices are being installed in vehicles that can send out a signal retrievable by a computer with an active internet connection in the event of vehicle theft. Once the theft is realized by the owner, the GPS signal can be used to locate the vehicle and pass that information on to the proper authorities. For vehicles in motion, the method of tracking the signal can be provided to police to aid them in locating and recovering the vehicle.

GPS tracking is also being linked to sensors in cars that let the system know when an accident has occurred. In many cases, if the driver is unconscious or incapacitated, the car can alert authorities to the accident and the location so that emergency crews can be dispatched. This facet of GPS tracking has saved many lives in the past few years.

Businesses are using GPS car tracker to monitor their fleets of company owned vehicles and to route drivers and technicians to their next call. The data is used to adjust routes driven by employees to maximize fuel economy and to reduce the amount of territory that is being covered repeatedly by more than one driver. In addition, dispatchers have the ability to route drivers to a new location based on who is closest rather than who is available first. This can lead to a great deal of money savings for business.

Vehicle tracking devices are being used more and more all the time. People are finding a great many ways to save money by using the data supplied by the GPS devices. They are also finding a better safety system that can save lives by letting emergency personnel know exactly where to locate a vehicle following an accident.

GPS navigation is a convenience many drivers are coming to rely on heavily for getting around in strange locations. There is, however, a lot more to GPS car tracking technology than simply navigation. The benefits of GPS technology are varied and many for individuals and businesses alike.

Rain or Shine – GPS Tracking Works Anytime

March 22nd, 2009

By Harriette Halepis

For some reason, most of us never think of the future in stormy terms. When we picture what we might do today or tomorrow, we always tend to think of these events as being held in perfect weather. Even for those that think about potential accidents, the thought of snow, rain, ice, or other weather never seems to cross our minds. However, the truth is that most accidents and incidents happen when the skies are less than picture perfect blue.

Whether a car accident or a pedestrian accident, most collisions of any kind occur amidst lousy weather. Cars careen around corners during windy snowstorms. Pedestrians are hit by cars while crossing the street during a rainstorm. Bicycles often wind up entangled with cars when the clouds are covering the sky. Massive car pile-ups happen when the weather is unexpected and treacherous. It is rare to hear of an accident occurring on a sunny day. This is not to say that days filled with sunshine can’t be dangerous, but accidents are far less likely to happen under these weather circumstances.

When bad weather does cause an accident, most people are completely unprepared for the aftermath. Hardly any motorists carry emergency kits in their cars. Most cyclists never bother to take anything with them on a trek, and pedestrians aren’t likely to think about accidents while crossing a street. The amazing thing is that you can be prepared for whatever comes your way with a bit of planning. Always carry a first aid kit inside of your car or with you on your bicycle. Make sure to bring identification cards with you if you plan to cross busy streets. Lastly, consider carrying a GPS tracking device on you at all times – it could save your life.

Most GPS tracking devises are weather resistant. This means that your GPS tracker can be out in the cold, underneath the pouring rain, or stuck in a snow bank, and it will still work. Sometimes accidents don’t happen the way that we imagine them. If you wind up in an accident and you can’t call for help, make sure that your GPS tracker can withstand the elements. While we never picture accidents happening on perfect days, we also never think about what might happen if an accident sight cannot be located. With innovative, weather-proof, GPS tracking systems, you’ll always be prepared for any kind of stormy weather.

GPS Vehicle Tracking and The Teenage Driver

March 12th, 2009

By Greg Bartlett

One statistic that cannot be avoided is that younger less experienced drivers are more likely to be involved in an automobile accident than more experienced drivers. A 16 or 17 year old driver who has just received their license has little or no relevant experience in driving a motor vehicle. This lack of experience often leads to situations that more experienced drivers would not find themselves in. These situations can be monitored through the use of a GPS vehicle tracking device and then brought to the immature driver’s attention.

A typical youthful driver seldom recognizes that they have put themselves into a potentially hazardous situation. In many cases an experienced driver is not with the inexperienced driver when those situations occur. Remote monitoring of the vehicle allows the inexperienced drivers actions to be reviewed and then discussed when the inexperienced driver returns home.

The acquisition of a driver’s license provides the teenager the first real responsibility of their life. The removal of the constraint from adult supervision allows the sense of freedom from rules imposed by others. Rules, however, in the form of traffic rules, must be obeyed. The sense of freedom often includes the disregard for traffic rules. Through the utilization of a tracking system the inexperienced driver will recognize that they are not completely free from parental oversight.

The manner in which a youthful driver will operate a motor vehicle will change when an adult is in the car. The car will be driven in a more sedate, cautious manner than it will be when the driver is alone or with contemporaries. The youthful driver who may drive like they are in a funeral procession when an adult is with them may drive like they are on the NASCAR circuit when the adult is not present. A GPS vehicle tracking system allows the youthful driver the knowledge that an adult is always with them.

GPS vehicle tracking systems provide an opportunity to review youthful driver’s actions after they return home. This provides a learning experience for the youthful driver in that an experienced driver can show them things that they may not have realized they had done. This time can help the youthful driver learn in such a way that previously could not have been obtained. With the knowledge that their driving is being monitored, the youthful driver will drive in a more sedate, safe manner so as not to incur the discipline of the parent when they arrive home. GPS vehicle tracking can be of help to any parent and teenage driver.

GPS Fleet Management: Let Your Requirements Decide the Type of Vehicle Tracking System You Need

March 5th, 2009

Fleet management is the primary reason for installing a GPS system, but there are many added-value benefits. While you are tempted to utilize this modern technology for your fleet business, it is essential to evaluate your requirements and then choose the most appropriate system.

Let’s make an effort to determine your requirements and find a solution accordingly.

Size of Your Fleet
There is no such thing as too few vehicles or too many vehicles to benefit from GPS. Whether you have one vehicle or one hundred thousand vehicles, everyone benefits. The number of vehicles in your fleet can help you choose the appropriate GPS fleet tracking system. While a group of 3-4 vehicles can be easily managed by a simple location-tracking system, you need a sophisticated arrangement for larger fleets.

Fleet Future Growth Evaluation
Do you expect to add more vehicles to the existing fleet in the future? Then, be wise and go for a high-level fleet GPS tracking system well in advance. You can save the cost of replacing a system by starting out with a device that meets your needs and the growth of your business.

Encompass All Cost Factors

Consider the interest rates, if you are borrowing a bank loan for purchasing GPS fleet management system.
Leasing can be a good option, as a monthly expenditure can be easily adjusted to the overall business costs. On the other hand, one-time investment in these equipments can also be a wise choice.
How much will you need to spend for monthly monitoring fees? For this, take into account the number of pings and alerts you expect from each vehicle. Also, the cost for installation should be calculated.
Above all, you need to evaluate the operational effects and the cost-saving benefits of installing GPS fleet tracking system. The good news is that insurance premiums are reduced. GPS vehicle tracking systems reduce accidents and traffic violations. As a result, discounted insurance rates are being offered by nearly all insurance companies.

A GPS tracking system is capable of introducing savings that will neutralize the burden of investment costs of this technology. The implementation of GPS vehicle tracking will provide you with an increased knowledge of managing employees and assets, and it will improve the efficiency of your overall business operations. To inquire about GPS for your fleet, call Rocky Mountain Tracking, Inc at 1-888-242-0500.