Rocky Mountain Tracking

Daily GPS News

Make Every Hour in the Day Count

August 6th, 2010

Have you ever been responsible for picking up relatives at the airport or bus station? You carefully planned your schedule around the airplane or bus scheduled arrival time. Maybe you even got off work early or missed lunch in order to be ready at the airport or station, only to find when you arrived that things had been delayed and your passenger wouldn’t arrive for another forty-five minutes. You know the frustration that scenarios like this can cause and the kink it can cause in a carefully planned schedule. Bus drivers, understand this because bus companies have begun to use GPS tracking devices on their buses.

This utilizes the normal GPS tracking system, which consists of a series of twenty-four satellites orbiting outer space (plus a few extras in case of technical failure). These satellites work together in groups of twos or threes to determine the latitude and longitude (otherwise known as location) of the receiver on earth. The receiver is attached to an individual, a pet, a car, or in this case, a bus. The information downloads to the internet or a mobile device. Active tracking gives real-time information whereas passive logs simply record the data for later review. GPS tracking has many capabilities, including geofencing, routes, speeds, and many more.

This idea is a variation on fleet tracking devices already used by companies like UPS. Managers use GPS tracking to determine if their drivers are following the most efficient routes, if any delays or problems arise, and if the vehicle travels off route. A gps tracking system reports the information on location as well as delays and other alerts. The estimated arrival time will update to reflect information on delays. One example of how this works is at MIT. MIT has implemented this system on their campus buses in order to prevent long waits by students during inclement weather or during nighttime hours. The students are able to see exactly where the bus is on a map and when it will arrive. The information downloads to the internet where students can check the information in real-time. While it may seem like overkill to use this type of tracking system just to save a few minutes, those minutes can be priceless to a busy college student. More studying at the library could mean a better grade on that exam. Efficient students make every hour count so that jobs and socializing can fit on their schedules. Even for non-college students, saving a few minutes and avoiding the inconvenience of delay is beneficial and well worth the investment for transport vehicles. After all, if your customers are inconvenienced – they will not use the system and resort to alternate modes of transport. It’s best to make every hour in the day count! Gps tracking can help you discover your inefficiencies and tighten them up for better customer satisfaction.

GPS Trackers: Peace of Mind and Independence Combined

May 20th, 2010

By Greg Bartlett

If you were to ask the average child or young teenager what he or she wants the most from their parents, it might surprise you to find out that what he or she truly wants is independence and trust. However, a teenager’s desire for independence will make parents proud to see their children growing up, but it also produces a nagging fear in the parent’s hearts that comes from not knowing where their kids are at every moment.

Teen Drivers & GPS

There is a way to keep tabs on your kids even when they are out of your sight. GPS tracking devices are small, portable pieces of technology that allow you to follow your child’s or teenager’s movements. So whether they are at school, the mall, or with a friend, you can stay informed. Some GPS tracking devices also let you, as the parent, to set parameters for your child. This means that you can choose where your children can and cannot go, and, if they cross one of these set boundaries, you are alerted via text message.

All GPS tracking devices make use of the twenty-some satellites in space, and there are two basic types of trackers. The first type of GPS tracking device is a data logger. This type of device stays on the child for anywhere between 10 to 21 days continuously. A data logger does exactly what its name implies; it logs the time and location of the person wearing the GPS tracking device. You, as the parent, can remove the tracker and retrieve that data off it and on to your computer.

This type of tracker is helpful, but it does not allow you to track your child in real-time. If you are looking for up-to-date information on your child’s whereabouts, you may be more interested in a data pusher. A data pusher is still worn on the child at all times—similar to a data logger. The difference is that the data pusher periodically sends, or “pushes,” the child’s or teenager’s location every few seconds. You can then follow your child’s movements online on any web-enabled device.

Every day the news is filled with headlines of children who are lost, missing, or even abducted. It is a scary place to be as a parent and as a child. No parent wants his or her child’s desire for independence to be overtaken by fear. GPS tracking devices can bring both peace of mind and independence.

Should Parents Be Required To Track Their Teens?

May 13th, 2010

Understanding the driving habits of your teen is the easiest way to uncovering whether or not they are a bad driver. With automobile accidents being the primary cause of premature death among teenagers, accessing the driving habits of teen drivers has never been more important. However, with many teens not expressing the ritual of their daily lives and reducing communication with parents, how can parents learn the driving habits of a teen?

Teen Drivers & GPS

GPS tracking system technology is providing the answer.

One of the major problems among teen drivers is speeding, but knowing whether or not your teen is a habitual speeder can be a difficult task for many parents to prove. However, uncovering that information with a GPS monitoring device is easy. GPS monitoring devices allow parents to have access to the speeds a teen was driving and the maximum speed driven, making it simple for parents to know if their teen is driving safely or dangerously.

With teen driving safety being one of the most important topics among parents and educators, some people have been discussing legislation that would require anyone under the age of 18 to parental monitoring of driving habits via GPS tracking. The reason why some people are calling for such drastic measures is because when teens engage in unsafe driving habits not only are they endangering their lives, but they are also endangering the lives of everyone else sharing the roads with them. Therefore, if a parent were given the power to monitor their teen driver under the age of 18 they would have the ability to quickly identify if their teen was speeding or driving unsafely. They would then be able to correct the problem before it becomes an established driving behavior.

Obviously, the notion of teen tracking comes from a positive place, with people wanting to reduce teen fatalities and improve road safety overall. Although there is currently no GPS teen tracking legislation pending, only time will tell if lawmakers will look to GPS tracking technology as a tool to reduce teen speeding and improve teen safety.

Ryan Horban is a guest author who specializes in writing about GPS technology and monitoring devices for Tracking System Direct.

Distracted Driving Incident Carries Conviction

May 13th, 2010

by James Neely, freelance writer

One of the most serious of offenses that can have deadly consequences is called distracted driving. This occurs when the driver is distracted by, among other things, cell phone conversations or texting, adjusting vehicle controls, moving seat positions or even things like personal hygiene.

Distracted Drivers & GPS Tracking

Such was the case when a Waukegan, Illinios woman was found guilty of striking and killing a motorcycle driver while she was painting her nails while driving. While this was a strange case, it does underscore the need for attention to distracted driving and the consequences thereof.

Distracted driving occurs when attention is taken off of the road, driving tasks or hands from the steering wheel because of any kind of event.

Who is Vulnerable? Distracted driving is found among all drivers of any age category, but it is mostly found among young drivers. Education needs to continue to be poured upon those who are just learning how to drive to help them avoid this problem. Just as driving while intoxicated has reached socially unacceptable status, so too should distracted driving activities. Unfortunately, the consequences of any type of driving while under the influence or distracted can carry the same deadly consequences as in the story above.

What can be Done? Education has been mentioned as a way to help deter this activity. This certainly would impact new, young drivers, but everyone needs to recognize the problem and deal with it in a safe way. Do not use things that can draw your attention away from driving. Turn your cell phone alerts to silent while you are driving. Resist the urge to text unless you are in a parked position.

Can Technology Help? Manufacturers of electronic devices like a GPS tracking device that are used mainly in vehicles can help, too. The race for better technology in vehicles is not necessarily a good thing if it poses a threat to the attention of drivers. Some of these systems could be rendered inoperable by vehicle manufacturers while they are in motion.

As more information comes to light on distracted driving, it will begin to take hold and we will see fewer incidents. Until that time, take care and learn about defensive driving as a way to help avoid accidents. It might save you a lot of pain and heartache.

Speed Cameras Shut Down in Arizona

May 11th, 2010

The pendulum has swung the other way in what critics are hailing as a good move in the state of Arizona. Speed cameras that were designed to take pictures of license plates of speeding cars are being turned off for good.

If you were a driver on the freeways around Phoenix, you could have found a speeding ticket in your mailbox if you were travelling at 11 mph above the posted limit. This system was operated by a private company under the watch of the Arizona Department of Public Safety.

In all this affects over 70 cameras along with vans that travelled the interstate system in search of speeding violators.

Supporters of the system say that it helped slow down motorists while reducing the severity of accidents which saves lives. Opponents have stood by their claim that it creates a ‘big brother’ atmosphere where everything is suspect and personal rights are trampled upon with impunity.

This also has a detrimental effect upon the company which runs the system. They will have to write off millions of dollars of assets not to mention the money that they were making while running the program.

The best way to handle the problem of speeding is easy: self-monitoring and use of technology.

GPS Tracking assistance. If you install a GPS Tracking device in your vehicle, you can get an accurate reading of your speed during any point of your travels. This data has been successfully used in court to defend against moving violation tickets.

Using Active Driving Skills. Most people become more passive, the more they drive. This has to stop. You must become and remain an active participant in your driving so to avoid not only moving violations, but accidents as well. This is the number one way to avoid tickets. Slow down, pay attention to traffic signals and signs and don’t get in a hurry. Also, make sure that you are wearing your seat belt. And, avoid driving while under the influence of any substance that can impair you as a driver.

Know Your Rights. You do have rights in defending yourself in the event that you are given a citation for a moving violation. While putting up a defense can cost you a lot of money, it can keep points from going onto your license. Be sure that the charges against you are accurate and that you were indeed breaking the law. That is the first place to start your defense. Otherwise, pay your fine and move on.

It does not take much to avoid tickets. Just use common sense and pay attention.

GPS Tracking allows Cars to Drive Themselves?

April 19th, 2010

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

Imagine being able to get into your vehicle, start it up, input your destination then sit back and enjoy the ride as you are whisked along without any input in the process. It’s a pipe dream, right? From a current reality standpoint, yes, it is impossible, however Audi has a different opinion.

Cars That Drive Themselves & GPS

They have developed a vehicle that drives itself with no input from the occupant. Notice the word ‘driver’ was not used. How did they do this and what does it mean for the future of vehicular transportation?

Actually, the goal of the Audi engineering team is not so much to create a driverless vehicle as it is to make for a safer trip.

Audi has developed a TTS model that will ascend to the summit of Pikes Peak at 130 mph using technology including GPS Tracking to help the project be a success. Remotely controlled vehicles have done this before, but not at these speeds. The highest was 25 mph.

The GPS Tracking technology being used in this instance is called ‘differential.’ It is a hybrid tracking system that provides a 2 centimeter degree of accuracy. Standard GPS Tracking systems are currently only able to track to within a few meters.

With safety at the top of the priority list, Audi expects to create vehicles that are safer, easier and more fun to drive. Vehicles that will eventually employ these systems will be able to take over if and when the driver gets in over his head. A good example of this would be encountering a patch of ice. Your car would take measures that would keep you from going off of the road. Or, if you try to take a curve too quickly, the car would perform maneuvers that would bring itself back from the brink of an accident.

Safety systems have been an important part of vehicles for years now, but none as all-encompassing as this. It appears that sooner than we think, automobile accidents could become a thing of the past.

It would also solve the problem of driving while intoxicated. Imagine being able to get into your own vehicle after a night of partying, and issuing it a command to take you home while you sit back and relax.

We already have cars that will park themselves, so this is not really that far-fetched. The future of vehicular travel will prove interesting in the next 20 years and the systems being developed right now will make it so.

Distracted Drivers – How GPS Tracking Solves the Problem

March 18th, 2010

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

There’s a lot of talk about distracted drivers on our streets and roadways and, for good reason because the amount of distractions has increased. Consider that not too many years ago, the vehicle controls and the radio used to be the only major distractions to the driver. Now, add cell phones, GPS Navigation units, entertainment systems and the myriad of other electronic aids built into vehicles and you have a recipe for disaster.

Distracted Drivers & GPS Tracking

Distracted driving is quick becoming a major cause of accidents that not only produce damage to a vehicle, but can cause injury and even death. It is important, then to discuss the ways that distractions can be eliminated.

Reduce the Possibility

Getting rid of distractions by turning off devices that demand attention is the number one way to eliminate distractions. Or do not take things along that can distract a person while they are driving.

Alter Behavior

Teaching to better handle distractions is important, too. Face it, distractions will come, but it is more important to learn how to handle them than to just ignore them. For example, it is better to pull off to the side of the road when taking a cell phone call in a vehicle. That way, there is no way that you can be the cause of a moving violation or accident. That goes for text messaging, too. Helping drivers learn to prioritize tasks can be helpful, also. Texting and talking on the cell phone can wait until you are at your destination.

Add GPS Tracking

Here’s why this makes sense. When people know that they are being watched, the fact that it is occurring changes their actions. Consider that when you drive down the street and encounter a police vehicle, you immediately check your speed and put on the brakes. And, if you are being followed by a police car, you suddenly become the best driver in the world.

GPS Tracking devices can have that effect, too. When a driver realizes that every move they make with a vehicle is being ‘watched’ then it will have a positive impact on their actions. They begin to pay closer attention to their driving.

Distracted driving is at serious levels in our society and anything that we can do to reduce or eliminate it is worthwhile. GPS Tracking can be a catalyst for good driving behaviors.

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.

Business Uses for GPS Vehicle Tracking

February 28th, 2010

By Greg Bartlett

Fleet vehicle theft can provide huge payoffs for the criminals who make it their business. When tractor trailers and their contents are stolen, it’s difficult for police to recover them, and traditionally the rate of returned vehicles has been low. That is, until the advent of GPS vehicle tracking. Fleet vehicles that have been equipped with GPS tracking devices can be monitored from a company computer and their whereabouts determined at any time. That means that as soon as a theft occurs, police have access to data that will show them the exact location of the missing vehicle, enabling them to find not only the vehicle but usually the perpetrator as well.

GPS Vehicle Tracking & Businesses

Companies who have installed GPS vehicle tracking in their fleet vehicles have reported an excellent return on their investment. When dealing with large, expensive vehicles that can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars each, the savings of recovering just one stolen vehicle can make the purchase of GPS tracking devices worth it, since that’s one less vehicle that has to be replaced. If employers suspect their drivers of performing personal business on company time, they can monitor individual drivers as well. Whether the employees are selling company products for personal gain, operating a personal side business on company time, or simply using the company vehicle for personal driving, managers can nip these behaviors in the bud by having the information they need to confront employees with specifics.

As GPS vehicle tracking technology improves, transmitters are being built smaller, enabling discreet placement so that the devices cannot be easily detected or removed. The transmitter sends signals to a computer detailing the vehicle’s movements over time and this information can be viewed either in real time or as a report of activities over a given time span. Real time information helps track down stolen vehicles in as little as an hour from the time they were stolen, while data reports can help employers confront workers with hard facts if they deny misbehavior. Some cities have begun using the devices to ensure that employees are performing their jobs as expected as well.

Businesses that have asked themselves whether GPS vehicle tracking could help improve their bottom line will be pleased with the cost saving efficiency that can be encouraged with the help of the tracking devices. It’s an excellent way to keep tabs on both employees and vehicles, while making sure they make the most of limited resources.

Driver Safety and GPS Tracking

February 8th, 2010

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

Fleet operations have the unenviable task of monitoring their drivers as they travel their daily routes. It is a necessary part of the operation to help insure that their drivers are using safe and responsible activities. A huge burden of liability rests on the companies who have many company-owned vehicles moving along the streets of most major cities and towns.

GPS & Safe Drivers

More of these businesses have turn to GPS Tracking systems to augment their driver safety policies. Here is how properly outfitted devices can help in this arena:

Awareness

This is true not only when the driver is on the road, where they need to be the most aware of their surroundings and the things happening in front of them, but when they are on their own time as well. Paying attention to details is always a good choice in remaining focused on any task. Driving a vehicle, especially a large delivery truck or even semi, requires a constant focus. But there are always too many distractions.

Responsibility

When a driver is part of an organization that values safety and responsibility, they feel like a part of something bigger than just making deliveries every day. This is what motivates people to become heroes when they assist others who are involved in traumatic situations. In fact, the training that they receive often kicks in without them thinking about it.

Safety Alignment

By emphasizing safety, it becomes a part of their everyday routine. From making sure that their vehicle is operating correctly, to driving with added ownership of their actions at the wheel they are immersed in safety activities.

Encourages Positive Behavior

When drivers value safety and responsibility, they make better decisions on the road. Knowing that lives are at stake helps a great deal, also.

A GPS Tracking device helps the driver realize that they are being monitored not only for business purposes, but to also ensure that rules of the road and laws are being obeyed at all times. This will help make sure that the incidents of moving violations are low while driving up customer satisfaction. Drivers will be more productive as well. This is a decision that you will not regret making for your business. Check out one of these systems today.

Rocking Mountain Tracking has the best line-up of GPS Tracking devices 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.

GPS Tracking Makes the Roads Safer

December 11th, 2009

By Greg Bartlett

Conscientious drivers in every location detest tailgaters. The problem is compounded when the tailgater drives a company vehicle that’s bigger than your car and when he uses his vehicle’s size to intimidate other vehicles and disregard traffic etiquette. “How’s my Driving?” stickers do little to curb the reckless driving behavior of many truck and van drivers and callers often end up frustrated when their calls seem to make little difference in driving habits on the road. New GPS tracker technology, however, allows companies to keep a closer eye on vehicle operators and gives them the information they need to implement safe driving initiatives for their drivers.

GPS & Driver Safety

Equipping fleet vehicles with a GPS tracker has become standard practice at many businesses. Transmitters send signals to company computers and keep managers informed of the location of their employee vehicles as they make their rounds throughout the day. Results can be viewed in real time or as a report detailing movement over time. Many models also allow monitoring of speed and can provide the direction of the vehicle as well as fuel usage details. The newest innovations in GPS tracker technology provide company managers with more information about driver behavior including quick accelerations over the speed limit, stamping on the brakes, and swerves.

Most business owners love the new generation of GPS trackers, stating that they’ve seen significant cost savings over the course of the year due to reduced fuel usage and greater efficiency. While installing a GPS tracker on every vehicle can’t prevent bad driving, it can give managers concrete information about the safety record of each driver, allowing them to confront problems where they exist and take measures to correct them. When an employee knows that his driving is under surveillance, he’ll be more likely to demonstrate care as he drives and to abide by speed limits and road rules. Managers can also incorporate fuel savings training into their business protocol, reminding employees that driving the speed limit and not leaving the engine idling during deliveries keeps the environment cleaner and saves money across the board.

For everyone else on the road, GPS tracker use by businesses means lower chances of being cut off by speeding vans or being intimidated by larger vehicles. Safety is a goal that we all strive for in every aspect of our daily lives. GPS tracking technology provides one more way to make sure the roads are kept safe for everyone.