Although motorcoaches are being loaded up with all sorts of high-tech gadgets and gear, there appears to be little concern in the industry so far -- that the variety and volume of new equipment might be overloading drivers.

However, all of the new paraphernalia is making driver training more challenging, as well as time consuming.

Thats the view of operators and safety experts who say as long as the new gear doesnt require drivers to fuss with it or pay much attention to it while theyre driving, theres little reason for worry that drivers are being stressed by it.

"The only concerns regarding these technologies are that of driver distraction," observed veteran transportation safety consultant Carmen Daecher of Camp Hill, Pa.

He said if the technologies operate by signaling or giving a warning -- such as a flashing light or a beeping sound, then there shouldnt be safety concerns. But, he cautioned, if the driver must pay close attention to the device for it to be effective, then there would be an issue.

"As long as the equipment is passive then there is little chance it would pose a safety hazard," agreed Jack Burkert of Still Pond, Md., another long-time safety consultant in the bus and transportation industry.

The issue has been building over the past few years as commercial drivers adjust to having to learn the workings of a wide assortment of new high-tech equipment that bus manufacturers have been adding to new coaches and aftermarket businesses have been making available for used coaches.

Among the newest add-ons are fire detection and suppression systems, electronic stability control systems, tire air pressure monitoring systems, onboard diagnostic and multiplex systems, computers with high-speed Internet capability, and driver and road monitoring systems.

Plus, there are security systems with inside and outside cameras and panic buttons, global positioning systems, satellite radio and television receivers, 12-speed transmissions, electronic onboard recorders, lane departure warning systems, cell phones, and more sophisticated entertainment systems.

New later this year will be diesel particulate filter systems that may require active regeneration by drivers.

Whats a driver to do?

While most of the equipment operates silently and passively, some of it particularly onboard entertainment systems could pose some safety issues because they easily can be operated by a driver while a coach is moving, according to Daecher.

"Most entertainment systems require little attention by the driver but, nevertheless, they do require attention at some point," he said. "The issue here is the importance for the driver to understand that control or operation of onboard equipment should only be attempted while not in motion."

He pointed out that the vast majority of the high-tech gear fire suppression systems and tire air pressure monitoring systems among them require almost no driver attention until something goes wrong and their warning lights or sounds are triggered.

Craig Dance, president of Champion Charter of Greenville, S.C., said while the new high-tech equipment may not be too much for the drivers to deal with, it has presented carriers with new challenges in training their drivers.

"We dont see any major problems with the electronic systems right now, although it is important to find the right trainers and teachers, and that already is a real challenge" he explained. "There are a lot of things for a driver to do and keep up with and we just hope that were training them right."

Daecher emphasized, too, that it is critical that drivers be supplied with sufficient information for the safe and efficient operation or response to the new technologies.

"This type of familiarization may take one to two additional hours at most in terms of orienting them to the technology, its use, what they should expect to see within the vehicle as a result of its presence and how to operate it," he said. "I dont see this as being a major contributor of time to the training program; however, it is an important additional element that must be covered."

Young drivers vs. old

Burkert said most young drivers seem to have few problems working or accepting the new equipment, while older drivers sometimes take longer to become acquainted with it and convinced of its value. "But once the older drivers accept them, then they seem to love them more than the younger drivers," he added.

Still, he noted that there are concerns that drivers are suspicious of some of the equipment such as global positioning systems and electronic onboard recorders, seeing them as being intrusive because they allow their bosses to keep a closer watch on their performance behind the wheel.

"But Ive found that the complaints have less to do with the equipment and more to do with the level of hostility already built up in a company that causes the problems," he said. "These are tools that can support the driver and the company and help them get better together."

Daecher pointed out that much of the new equipment can take some pressure off the drivers by making it easier for them to figure out what might be wrong when a coach breaks down on the road.

"Onboard diagnostics offer opportunities to more precisely pinpoint a problem," he said. "Drivers will still have the opportunity to do the old-fashioned hands-on work related to belt replacements and other more mechanical issues which cannot be replaced with these emerging technologies."

Facing the inevitable

While most of the new high-tech equipment is gaining strong, industrywide support, some operators have yet to embrace much of it, although most know they will have to buy into it soon.

"We have 19 coaches and our newest is a 1995, so we dont have a lot of high-tech equipment and arent faced with any problems," said Judy Reed, general manager of Bill Rohrbaughs Charters in Manchester, Md. "But, Im sure we will when we upgrade."

Mike Abercrombie, general manager of Amador Stage Lines in Sacramento, Calif., said hes considering putting road-recording cameras on his 50 buses even though he knows drivers are likely to resist.

"But they can protect the drivers, too," he said, adding that cameras can show how drivers manage to avoid accidents by their skillful driving. "For every one incident, there probably are 10 near-misses and we could see those with cameras."

Other operators may not be as quick to want any of the high-tech equipment on their buses.

Warren Micale, owner of Masters Touch Christian Charter Service in Prescott Valley, Ariz., is one of them as is evident by his recently taking delivery of a 2007 motorcoach with few of the high-tech extras.

"They even tried to sell me a satellite, but we turned them down because all we needed were a DVD and VCR," he said, adding that his regular customers find other things to do, including playing cards and listening to narrations by drivers about their trip. "My clientele is a little different than most."