Dr. Bill Wattenburg - Truck Stopping Device

After Bill's involvement in securing suspension bridges from possible terrorist attack, the California Highway Patrol asked him if he could devise some way to allow police to stop runaway or hijacked trucks on the highways. Hijacked trucks are a major terrorist vulnerability the nation faces today. A fuel tanker truck in the hands of a terrorist can be as dangerous as the airplanes that were crashed into the World Trade Center. However, law enforcement has had no means or procedures to stop hijacked large trucks other than to attempt to shoot the driver or the tires on the truck. Even when it is possible to shoot either the driver or the tires, these actions can still lead to great damage when the truck goes out of control.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• bill
• wattenburg
• truck
• trucking
• trucker
• stopping
• device
• llnl
• terrorist
• bomb
• fuel
• chp
• california
• highway
• patrol
• homeland

[RepublicanValues]

Dumbest idea I've seen in a long time.

[drsnk]

DHS didn't seem to think so. What your suggestion, a spike strip? LOL

This is an 80,000 pound 18 wheeler loaded with fuel were talking about, in a worst case scenario.

[TagGeorge]

Its funny that truck drivers are such a high risk target and under so much scruitiny but yet if you break it down by the hour OTR drivers are lucky to make a little over min wage.

[drsnk]

And now Bush wants to bring all the Mexican drivers here. It is the weakest link in homeland security. A prime target for Al Qaeda. Other than teachers, it is the most important and least appreciated profession in this country. What the hell would we eat without food distribution?

[TagGeorge]

How about when the tanker is on ice and a car hits it rear. Then the trucks brakes are locked and he is wrecking because of a jacknife.

[drsnk]

There should be a way to activate the mechanism by remote control, so that only cops could do it.

[DominicMetal1979]

1. So now any mugger in the middle of nowhere would have the power to stop your truck and rob you.

2. I don't suppose a terrorist could simply disable the device before taking the truck.

3. Now a car from behind can make you jacknife on ice and snow.

[PetrolJunkie]

I'm a firm fan of the remote electronic kill switches. It's built into the engine control computer, with the flip of a switch the engine is shut down with out compromising the ability to safely stop the vehicle.

There are easily a hundred ways a bump system could abused or cause crashes.

Bad idea.

[aurora990]

I have no problem with the new device that allows police officers to stop a truck by bumping into the bumper of the back of the trailer. however, there should be a revision on how to make the device safer in case of a rear-end vehicle accident to avoid locking up the wheels unnecessarily.

[rhodesta]

good thing thats not in new zealand.... simply hitting the trailer brakes wont stop a truck here. they have more than enough horsepower to simply drag the extra 52 tonnes.

[gogix]

A very stupid idea

[leotakesleo]

"there should be a way to activate the mechanism by remote control"

oh yea there should be way to pump something in ur mom's vagina through remote control...first develop that device..!

[tazztt1]

worthless... regardless of it effectiveness (which it has next to none) it is most definately cost prohibitive, unless you want a loaf of bread to cost 12.00.

[pepitol88]

just shoot the driver

[tobyk100]

Is he suggesting that every truck built is required to be fitted with one of these devices? I don't like this idea. Why don't we just put one of these things on every car made so the cops have complete control over our driving?

Interesting but not good for real life.

[themountainviewguy]

brilliant!