In order to improve driver safety, it is necessary to monitor driver behavior.
When being analyzed, drivers are more cautious than when they don’t know they are being monitored. Therefore, using technology that monitors driver behavior can help to reinforce good driving habits.
This can help reduce the frequency of insurance claims and accidents. Some insurance companies have already started to offer this type of technology to drivers.
Devices used to track drivers include telematic devices. These capture and store data by tapping into the computer of the vehicle. If the data shows that a driver is safe on the roads, the company usually offers some type of incentive, such as premium reductions or credits. One of the first companies to use telematics was Progressive with its Snapshot program.
How Telematics Works
Telematics will look at a few different metrics, including: the time of day you are driving, whether you take corners harshly, the distance you are traveling, and whether you are braking or accelerating hard. The exact data accessed will vary depending on the insurance company.
Telematics systems can help to reduce accidents by as much as 20 to 30 percent. For businesses, they might also aid in enhancing overall business efficiency. For example, improved maintenance schedules and logistics can increase efficiency by as much as 10 percent.
How Telematics Could Benefit a Business
If your business relies on drivers, you want to ensure that they are driving safely on the road. Safe drivers can save you money in several different ways:
- Reduced costs due to improved route management and driving habits
- Better operational efficiency due to vehicles remaining in better condition
- Reduced number of car accidents up to 30 percent, resulting in fewer insurance claims and less money spent on needed repairs
- No need to worry about your company vehicles being used by unauthorized people or for reasons not related to company business
Using Telematics for Fleet Management
Whether you opt for telematics or another option, trucking companies are starting to consider the use of these technologies more and more. It is important to know what your drivers are doing on the road so that you can enhance their safety and the safety of everyone on the road with them.
It is particularly important for truckers, especially those in 18-wheelers, to be mindful of their driving because of the size of the trucks. It takes 20 to 40 percent longer for a tractor trailer to stop in comparison to a regular passenger vehicle. This time is extended even more when road conditions are poor. Telematics can tell you which drivers are being cautious and which ones might not be stopping properly.
Efficiency is another major concern for business owners. When you utilize telematics technology, it can help drivers to know about issues such as road delays, allowing them to take an alternate route when possible. Of course, avoiding areas where there is an accident or a lot of construction can also enhance safety.
Reducing the operating costs of your fleet is also possible with this technology. It makes it easier for you to meet all your customer expectations while preventing costly driver errors.
Tracking hours of service allows you to know when and where your drivers are. This allows you to keep your employees on schedule and can help them be more efficient.
With video telematics, it is possible to enhance the overall safety and efficiency of roads and businesses. There are different options, such as a plug-in device from insurance companies, to a device that essentially offers video surveillance of a driver’s habits. Individuals and companies that employ drivers simply need to determine which is going to be the most beneficial for them or their business.
