Fleet Safety Technology  in 2019 and Beyond

Introduction

In this eBook, you'll learn about the ways in which new technology isimproving fleet safety and helping fleet managers do their job better.

Thank you for downloading our eBook. At Safety Track, we're passionateabout fleet safety technology and couldn't be more excited for what thefuture holds for the commercial fleet industry.

In this short eBook, you'll learn what technologies are currently on the market,which ones are best for you, and what you can expect in the near future. 

We'll cover topics such as:

How Technology Is Improving Fleet SafetyWhat New Technologies Are on the MarketThe True Cost of an AccidentAdditional Ways to Increase the Safety of Your FleetHow Self-Driving Cars Will Impact Fleet Drivers

Also, don't forget to visit our page for more up-to-date news and informationon fleet safety technology.

Table of Contents

1. Cover

2. How New Technology Is IncreasingFleet Safety

3. How Much Does an Accident ReallyCost?

4. 4 Effective Safety Tips for FleetManagers

5. Self-Driving Cars: A Threat toCommercial Fleet Drivers?

How NewTechnology Is

Increasing FleetSafety

- CHAPTER 1 -

We'll take a look at some of the newtechnologies on the market and how

they're making roads safer.

Fleet Safety Technology Is on the Rise

As driverless vehicles and autonomous cars slowly become a daily reality, numerousimprovements in driver safety technology have taken somewhat of a back seat inregards to news coverage and discussions on social media. 

This is to be expected, as vehicles that can drive themselves have been the topic ofscience fiction for decades and stimulate the imagination much more than “dull”safety features like autonomous emergency braking or lane departure warning. 

However, shouldn’t we as a society be more excited about the thousands of lives thathave been and will be saved due to new safety technology than the possibility ofbeing able to text or eat a hamburger and fries in our daily commute home fromwork? 

At Safety Track, we’re extremely passionate about fleet safety and the developmentof new technologies that can both save lives and improve your fleet’s operation. Andwe hope that we can transfer some of that passion to you.

In this article, we’ll look at some of the incredible advancements in driver safetytechnology and how they can protect both your drivers and your fleet. We’ll alsodetail the benefits of each specific technology and examine which solutions are rightfor your business.

Let’s start off by listing fleet safety technology that is currently available on themarket:

360-Degree Dashcams

Thanks to advancements in camera technology over the years, the picture quality ofdashcams has gone way up, allowing us to see things in finer detail and betterdetermine the cause of an accident. Prices of dashcams have also gone downsignificantly, enabling fleet managers to equip their vehicles with more cameraswhile staying within budget. Unlike most cameras on the market, Safety Track’sdashcams provide a live stream of what’s going on both inside and outside the cab,allowing fleet managers to “ride along” with their drivers.

Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB)

AEB technology uses both radars and lasers to detect objects on the road andimmediately applies the brakes without intervention from the driver. Even smallerobstacles that drivers may have trouble seeing, such as cyclists, pedestrians, deer,and other road hazards are detected by the sensors. AEB adds an extra layer ofsafety to fleet vehicles and prevents crashes by braking way before human reflexescan respond. 

Lane Departure Warning

Available in many passenger vehicles today, lane departure warning notifies a driverwhen they are drifting outside of their lane. The system uses rear and/or frontcameras to monitor lane markings on the road and measure the distance betweenthem. When the vehicle crosses over these markings, visual and auditory warningslet the driver know that they’ve drifted over. This is especially helpful for preventingcrashes when drivers are distracted or drowsy.

Traffic Jam Assistance

Traffic Jam Assistance is similar to autonomous driving, where the vehicleautomatically accelerates and decelerates in bumper-to-bumper traffic andmaintains a safe distance from vehicles in front. By utilizing a combination of AEBand Lane Departure Warning technology, Traffic Jam Assistance can prevent themost common accidents of all: fender benders. 

Blind Spot Warning

Blind Spot Warning lets drivers know when a vehicle is approaching their blind spotand sounds a warning as long as it remains in the area. This feature can either useradar or cameras to identify objects in the driver’s blind spot and notifies thembefore changing lanes. A good 360-degree camera system, however, can do thesame job and allows drivers to see all around the vehicle, even when traditionalmirrors fail. 

Speed Limit Detection

This feature monitors the speed of a vehicle and cross-references that informationwith the speed limit of the area through which the vehicle is going. Advanced formsof Speed Limit Detection can actually slow the vehicle down and adjust the cruisecontrol if it is set higher than the legal speed limit. On top of reducing the risk ofdangerous driving, Speed Limit Detection can eliminate the occurrence of expensivespeeding tickets. 

Automatic High-Beam

A handy safety feature that allows drivers to see at night, without blinding those inoncoming traffic. Automatic High-Beam uses ambient light sensors to turn down thebrightness of the vehicle’s headlights when other vehicles approach. As you mayhave experienced before on the road, bright headlights can cause one to betemporarily “blinded” and unable to see, increasing the chances of drifting outsidethe lane and crashing.

GPS Systems

Although GPS technology has been available to the public since the 1980s, itsapplication in driver safety has only been realized very recently. Through decades ofimprovements upon the technology, satellites can measure the speed, location, anddistance traveled by a vehicle down to the decimal point. With GPS systems installedin your fleet vehicle, you can more accurately measure the miles driven by yourdrivers, identify dangerous or suspicious behavior, and track the whereabouts ofyour vehicles. This adds a layer of protection for both you and the drivers whooperate your fleet.  

Fleet Safety Solutions from Safety Track

Safety Track’s line of live dashcams and GPS systems are designed to protect yourdrivers, vehicles, and your business. When fully equipped with our advanced safetysolutions, your fleet will not only run safer and more efficiently but also more cost-effectively. In addition, you’ll be able to monitor your drivers at all times and preventunsafe or suspicious behavior on the road. 

You’ll also join the movement towards safer roads by helping reduce the number offatal and injurious accidents that are caused by fleet vehicles in the US each year. 

How Much Does anAccident Really

Cost?

- CHAPTER 2 -

The cost of an accident is alreadyhigh on paper, but what about theexpenses that go unaccounted for?

The Hidden Costs of a Crash

When evaluating the total cost of a collision, fleet managers tend to focus on themost obvious expenses, such as vehicle repairs and increases in insurance rates.However, some of the most costly aspects of an accident are often overlooked. 

Hidden costs, such as losing a top driver, failing to make a delivery to a key client,and taking a hit to your company’s reputation can all have drastic consequences foryour business. Renting replacement vehicles and hiring temporary drivers in themeantime can also result in unforeseen costs—and a reduction in your operatingincome. 

The unfortunate reality is that these costs don’t appear on the balance sheet andoften go under many fleet managers’ radars. To make matters worse, someorganizations view collisions as an inevitable cost of doing business in thetransportation industry and ignore the repercussions.

In fact, immediate collision costs are just the tip of the iceberg. According to TheInternational Loss Control Institute, uninsured losses can range between $8 and $53for every $1 paid out by an insurer. However, since these numbers are often difficultto produce, they’re also difficult to present to decision-makers who may be skepticaltowards the importance of fleet safety. 

Making the Case for Fleet Safety

One of the most effective ways of presenting the case for fleet safety to a board is tohighlight the ROI of fleet safety programs and technologies. According to the data,drivers in the U.S. travel between 12,000 and 15,000 miles per year and have a 1 in15 chance of being involved in an accident. When you also consider that theaverage fleet driver will travel 20,000 to 25,000 miles per year, it’s safe to assumethat the risk of an accident (caused by them or another driver) is higher as well. 

Even if we shoot for a low estimate and multiply the 1 in 15 chance of an accident bya fleet of 1,000 vehicles, we end up with 150 vehicles being involved in an accidentper year. Taking into account the average cost per fleet vehicle accident ($21,000),you’re looking at a total of $3,150,000 per year—and that’s in the low range. 

This means that a fleet of 1,000 vehicles could afford to spend that much on fleetsafety per year and still save money or break even.  

How to Improve Fleet Safety and Reduce Crashes

Two of the most effective methods of improving fleet safety are providing yourdrivers with proper safety training and using fleet monitoring technology in yourcompany vehicles. 

Advanced GPS solutions are capable of detecting the speed of a vehicle and lettingyou know if a driver is going over the speed limit. Footage from dashcams alsoprovide fleet managers with a better idea of what’s happening and can be used forcorrectional/training purposes or evidence in the case of a crash. 

Unlike traditional dashcams, however, Safety Track’s line of live dashcams providesmanagers with HD streaming video of what’s going on from behind the wheel,around the vehicle, and inside the cab. This allows you to “ride along” with yourdrivers and correct dangerous or erratic driving behavior before an accident everhappens.

These cameras can also be used by the driver as backup cameras or to eliminateblind spots that you can’t see with a mirror, reducing the risk of colliding withanother vehicle on the road. 

4 Effective SafetyTips for Fleet

Managers

- CHAPTER 3 -

How you can use fleet safetytechnology to its full potential.

Being a Fleet Manager Isn’t Easy

As a fleet manager, it can often be difficult to focus on safety while simultaneouslydealing with the pressure to meet financial goals and accomplish businessobjectives. Hosting mandatory safety programs and keeping everything up to codemay even seem like a waste of time when your drivers should be on the roadinstead. 

However, promoting fleet safety shouldn’t be viewed as a separate activity, butinstead an integral part of daily operations. Keeping both your drivers and your fleetsafe will help you reduce overall costs and setbacks caused by injuries and damagedvehicles. Like we discussed in a previous article, a costly crash or collision affectsyour reputation and ability to complete deliveries, which can have a huge impact onyour continued success as a company. 

Now that we’ve discussed the value of fleet safety, let’s take a look at some of themost effective safety tips for fleet managers. 

4 Effective Safety Tips for Fleet Managers:

1. Train New DriversBefore ever entering one of your fleet vehicles, a new driver should be familiarizedwith your company’s safety policies in a classroom setting. Due to the astronomicalcost of an accident, there’s simply no option to learn by trial and error. Instead, takeplenty of time to train a new hire and ensure that they fully understand what isrequired of them. 

With an increase in driver shortages, it can be tempting to bypass necessary trainingand place a driver in the cab to complete an overdue shipment. Resist thetemptation to think short-term and consider the long-term costs of putting anuntrained driver in one of your fleet vehicles. When you do the math, you’ll realizethat it’s much cheaper to be patient and invest in proper safety training. 

2. Encourage CommunicationYou’ve heard the worn-out phrase, “Communication is key” before. As overused as itmay be, communicating with your employees is one of the top ways to promote safedriving behavior.

Clear communication with your drivers not only gives you an idea of how they’reperforming but also lets them know how to correct their behavior and do their jobbetter. By creating a culture of communication, you open employees up to receivingfeedback and encourage them to ask questions when they don’t know what do in acertain situation. 

Do keep in mind that good communication must go both ways. In other words, askdrivers to be honest with how they feel about their work, company policies, andeven your own performance as a manager. All of these things will help drivers feelmore willing to share their thoughts, but also more receptive to constructive criticismand correction. 

3. Enforc e PoliciesWhy wait until something goes wrong before you enforce your safety policies? Usewarnings and take disciplinary measures when a driver makes dangerous or riskydecisions on the road. 

This doesn’t mean you should rule with an iron fist. Doing so will just createresentment from your drivers, resulting in even worse compliance. Instead, beingswift and fair with judgment creates respect for the rules and lets drivers know thatyou’re serious about safety. 

Proper training and good communication with drivers, however, should reduce thenumber of incidents and policy violations beforehand. Therefore, focus more onpreventative measures to avoid constantly punishing or firing drivers for breakingthe rules. When drivers know what’s expected of them and have respect formanagement and its rules, employee disciplinary action usually stays at a minimum. 

4. Implement TechnologyIn addition to training, communication, and effective safety policies, technology isoften necessary to ensure that your employees are engaging in safe driving behavioron the road. Using GPS systems and live dashcams in your fleet vehicles is like ridingalong with your drivers, yet less intrusive and allows you to be multiple places atonce. 

GPS systems monitor the location and speed of your vehicles, providing you withextra peace of mind and reducing the risk of dangerous or suspicious driverbehavior. Live dashcams also give you a view inside the cab and on the road, whichallows you to correct bad driving habits before they form. As a bonus, dashcams arealways recording and can be used as evidence in the case of a crash. 

Rather than using these devices as an “all-seeing eye” to spy on drivers, GPS systemsand live dashcams are tools that help fleet managers enforce policies that arealready put into place. Drivers that refer to these devices as intrusive or invasive areoften the same ones that are lax about company policies and cut corners on safety. 

As we wrote in our article, “3 Ways to Implement Driver Safety (That Your DriversWon’t Hate)”, we talked about how to properly utilize these devices in your fleetwhile building trust with employees. The way in which you implement a dashcam orGPS in a vehicle is actually just as important as using them to monitor your drivers.Measuring positive driving behaviors and using gamification are just some of theways you can reduce employee pushback towards these devices. 

Self-Driving Cars: AThreat to Commercial

Fleet Drivers?

- CHAPTER 4 -

Could automated vehicles soonmake the human driver obsolete?

The Future of Self-Driving Vehicles

With everyone from Uber and Ford to Apple and Google testing fleets of self-drivingvehicles, it seems like nothing can stop the autonomous revolution. But will we seeautomated commercial fleets anytime soon, and is it really what consumers want?

A 2018 study from Cox Automotive found that although consumer awareness of self-driving vehicles has grown astronomically in recent years, acceptance of driverlessautomobiles has completely plummeted. Of the 1,250 consumers surveyed, just16% indicated that they would be comfortable with letting an autonomous vehicledrive without the option of taking control. 84% said that they would still want theoption to drive themselves—no matter how good the AI may be. 

When participants were asked if they believed that roads would be safer with onlyfully autonomous vehicles on the road, just 45% agreed. This represents an 18%decline in two years, with 63% of respondents having had said “yes” to the samequestion in 2016. 

So, with driverless technology improving and consumer awareness increasing, whatcould be to blame for this drop in confidence?

It turns out, 61% of respondents were aware of the fatal crash in Arizona this Marchthat involved one of Uber’s self-driving cars and a pedestrian crossing the street.Shortly after the incident, Uber shut down self-driving tests in the state and receiveda lot of backlash from the public. 

Despite a lack of trust in driverless vehicles, support for automated safety featuresare stronger than ever. In a vehicle with automated safety features, a human is ableto make the important decisions, yet receives assistance from tools, such as collisionwarning alert systems, adaptive headlights, lane keeping assist, automatedemergency braking (AEB) and much more. 

When asked if new technology makes better drivers, 54% of respondents said yes,confirming the hypothesis that consumers aren’t afraid of automated vehicles butrather the lack of human oversight. 

What This Means f or Commercial Fleets

For commercial fleet owners who would like to replace their drivers by 20XX, thismay come as bad news. Self-driving technology simply hasn’t reached the level itneeds to be at to replace a human driver—and it’s possible that it never will. Inaddition to complex problem solving and ethical decision making, driving requiresmaking judgments that only a human can do, for now. 

Instead of a radical shift between human-operated and self-driving cars, we’reseeing a gradual transition that involves giving our drivers better tools andautomated technology to make knee-jerk reactions like swerving out of the way toavoid oncoming traffic or hitting the brakes when a deer crosses the road. When itcomes to more complicated decisions, however, a human driver is still necessary totake the wheel and respond. 

Other technologies, such as live dashcams, blind spot warnings, and 360-degreecameras are helping drivers make more informed decisions and avoid commondangers like colliding with nearby vehicles when merging. GPS technology alsohelps track the speed and direction of vehicles, allowing fleet managers to informdrivers if they’re driving recklessly or going over the speed limit. 

Fleet Safety Solutions

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To learn more about how technology can improve thesafety of your commercial fleet, visit our page and check

out our line of live dashcams and GPS systems.