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Re: UP to begin installing inward-facing Cab Cams
Author: OPRRMS
Date: 08-22-2013 - 11:25
smitty195 Wrote:
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> It's easy for me to form an opinion because I'm
> not the one having the camera lens pointed at me.
> However, as an outsider, I see it as a good
> preventative tool. I don't know if anyone
> remembers this, but back when forward facing
> cameras were first announced, engine crew people
> FREAKED OUT (at least on another pay website they
> did). Lots and lots of ticked off crews---pages
> and pages of complaints about how bad it would be.
> At the time, I said that this is a common reaction
> and to "trust me" because once installed, you will
> be SO glad you have them because they will save
> your butt time and time again. And that has pretty
> much turned out to be true----the camera doesn't
> lie. (Yes, it has caught violations too, of
> course). But the same thing will happen with
> inward facing cameras. You'll get used to it,
> you'll hear the stories (or experience it
> personally), and people's butts will be saved from
> a phony lawsuit or complaint because the camera
> will prove that you were doing right.
>
> And yes, EVERY occupation has "that guy" in
> management who is a complete jerk and who will sit
> there and do nothing but watch videos all day (if
> that's even allowed under the rules) to try to
> find something you did wrong. You can't avoid
> that----"that guy" will be there no matter what,
> and every workplace has a guy like that. It's
> unavoidable. But overall, I think it will be a
> positive thing. Just think of all the videos of
> transients sleeping on the floor of empty units.
> :)
I think you've answered your own question, Andy. The current TIRs, alerters, and all the other supposed safety devices haven't stopped the collisions. Inward-facing cameras won't, either. So for UP (and the other carriers) to use "examples" is just a smoke-and-mirrors game. Until the industry gets serious about addressing the root cases, nothing will change. It didn't happen in the nearly 42 years in was in it. I don't expect it will anytime soon.
For the record, I personally have no objection to the cameras. As you correctly state, they can either be your best friend or your worst enemy.
-------------------------------------------------------
> It's easy for me to form an opinion because I'm
> not the one having the camera lens pointed at me.
> However, as an outsider, I see it as a good
> preventative tool. I don't know if anyone
> remembers this, but back when forward facing
> cameras were first announced, engine crew people
> FREAKED OUT (at least on another pay website they
> did). Lots and lots of ticked off crews---pages
> and pages of complaints about how bad it would be.
> At the time, I said that this is a common reaction
> and to "trust me" because once installed, you will
> be SO glad you have them because they will save
> your butt time and time again. And that has pretty
> much turned out to be true----the camera doesn't
> lie. (Yes, it has caught violations too, of
> course). But the same thing will happen with
> inward facing cameras. You'll get used to it,
> you'll hear the stories (or experience it
> personally), and people's butts will be saved from
> a phony lawsuit or complaint because the camera
> will prove that you were doing right.
>
> And yes, EVERY occupation has "that guy" in
> management who is a complete jerk and who will sit
> there and do nothing but watch videos all day (if
> that's even allowed under the rules) to try to
> find something you did wrong. You can't avoid
> that----"that guy" will be there no matter what,
> and every workplace has a guy like that. It's
> unavoidable. But overall, I think it will be a
> positive thing. Just think of all the videos of
> transients sleeping on the floor of empty units.
> :)
I think you've answered your own question, Andy. The current TIRs, alerters, and all the other supposed safety devices haven't stopped the collisions. Inward-facing cameras won't, either. So for UP (and the other carriers) to use "examples" is just a smoke-and-mirrors game. Until the industry gets serious about addressing the root cases, nothing will change. It didn't happen in the nearly 42 years in was in it. I don't expect it will anytime soon.
For the record, I personally have no objection to the cameras. As you correctly state, they can either be your best friend or your worst enemy.
