There was a write up in our local paper on Sunday about the computers now int he Disney buses, and that the drivers find having to run a computer is really distracting while they're driving. The article pointed to this as a possible cause for all the recent accidents.
MagicBus, what do you think about the onboard computers?
The system is what it is, and it's being used pretty well by most drivers. It's not really a computer in the sense of what most people think a computer is. The small screen is very subtle and does not flash to the point where it's a distraction to the driver. If used properly by the driver and more importantly, at the right times, it does perform a lot of the non-driving tasks.
For me it was, and still is on some buses, more of a distraction to have to give the spiels while driving. It's the same thing as using a cell phone while driving.
Truck1 and the article point out some of the good and the bad of the system.
I don't believe it was or should be a factor in causing accidents. It's still the drivers responsibility to concentrate on the road no matter what.
Think of it as you do your GPS. You don't have to do anything it tells you unless you want to. It can be ignored or turned off.
If they asked all the drivers, should we keep it and improve it, or get rid of it? Most, not all, drivers would keep it.
When and if it's fully implemented, the driver will not have to do anything except look at the screen for the next route. I'm looking forward to that day. I hate having to listen to that pesky annoying radio all the time.