A call in Cincinnati made me stop trusting the lobby panel lights

I got a call for a stuck car at an office building downtown last month. The lobby indicator showed it was on floor 8, but the car was actually parked between 5 and 6. I spent 20 minutes checking the 8th floor hoistway door before I thought to check the pit. The main floor relay had failed, sending a false signal. Now, I always physically verify the car location with my own eyes before I even touch a door. That one bad relay cost me an hour and a lot of frustration. Has anyone else had a lobby indicator lie to them like that? What's your first move when the lights don't match up?

2 comments

2 Comments

harper8595h agoMost Upvoted

Ever notice how tech makes us trust our eyes less? We see a number on a screen and take it as fact, even when our gut says something's off. That false trust is everywhere now, not just in elevator panels.

blake_murphy613h ago

That idea about false trust in tech is interesting, @harper859, but I see it the other way. My gut is wrong a lot, but the numbers on my screen are usually right. Tech gives me facts to check my bad feelings against. I trust my eyes more now because I can actually look things up and see proof.