Using in-vehicle technology to improve safety

In-vehicle technology can offer huge benefits to fleets by providing valuable data which can be used to help prevent crashes and reduce costs, writes road safety charity Brake

As a charity that regularly works to connect fleet operators with the latest developments in road safety, Brake is encouraged by the large numbers of organisations now considering or taking up the latest in-vehicle technologies. Many of the organisations we work with have seen benefits from introducing new technologies, and some have even won prestigious Brake Fleet Safety Awards for the improvements to occupational road risk management technology has helped them to make.

These developments can have numerous advantages for the firms that implement them, but they can also present risks and difficulties. Implementing in‑vehicle technologies successfully to reduce risk is a matter of careful system choice and change management.

Selecting the right technology
The variety of in-vehicle technology solutions is as wide as the variety of fleet operators. Because of the range of choice, it can be difficult to select the most suitable form of technology for your company. That’s why Brake ran a half-day seminar on using in-vehicle technology to improve driver safety in Birmingham on 30 April. The seminar covered the options available, the features to look for to maximise driver safety, and how best to work with drivers to get the most out of the technology. Brake will produce a guidance report based on the advice given at this recent event.
    
The seminar touched on the many advantages some fleets have seen on implementing in-vehicle technologies. As a road safety charity, the most promising development we see is that effective technological solutions can significantly reduce the number of crashes involving fleet vehicles. This protects both fleet drivers and everyone else on the roads. The reduction in crashes can have other benefits – many firms find their insurance premiums and wear and tear bills fall after technology has been introduced, and of course fewer crashes leads to a healthier, safer workforce who are much less likely to need time off for physical or mental ill-health.
    
Further, many of the systems available are specifically designed to encourage more efficient driving, allowing companies to cut fuel bills. Being more environmentally friendly, as well as road safety conscious, can be a strong selling point for fleet companies in a market where buyers are looking to present strong community and social responsibility credentials. Finally, technological solutions can also help you provide real-time tracking data to customers, a level of customer service many organisations find very valuable.

A positive impact
Private hire firm Addison Lee is one company that has taken advantage of technology to improve tracking, having a positive impact on both safety and customer service in this way. An auto allocation system based on GPS satellite navigation was put in place to reduce distances travelled to reach customers, CO2 emissions and opportunities for crashes. The system gives updates every 30 seconds on each vehicle’s location and selects the nearest available Addison Lee vehicle to each customer call. The system allows managers to monitor and retrospectively analyse drivers’ behaviour.

Implementing in-vehicle technology can be challenging however, and sometimes the technology comes with downsides. In some cases systems can lead to drivers taking extra risks, for example relying on lane departure warnings and other anti-fatigue technologies instead of getting enough sleep and taking proper rest breaks.
    
Similarly, without proper education or engagement work, companies can find drivers resist new in-vehicle technologies and the behavioural changes they are designed to encourage. Drivers may feel resentful of new technology such as tracking software, feeling that the move is intended to spy on them. Companies have reported that driver performance can vary sharply after the introduction of tracking technologies, and this kind of performance variation can be difficult to manage safely. But by engaging drivers in implementing new technologies and combining adoption with appropriate consultation and internal communication, many of these issues can be overcome.

Risk management
Records management company Iron Mountain has had great success installing a vehicle telematics system, first through a pilot, then, as part of a range of risk management measures, and supported by clear communication with drivers, rolling the system out across its 360-strong fleet. Over four years, the programme has resulted in a 70 per cent overall reduction in incidents. Iron Mountain has seen a 57 per cent reduction in own damage and third-party costs; a 14 per cent reduction in insurance premiums for 2011, and a further eight per cent premium reduction for 2013; estimated fuel savings of more than seven per cent; and a 4.5 per cent reduction in maintenance costs. Overall, the programme is estimated to have saved £1,900,000.
    
Again though, without appropriate driver education and communication there can be a danger, with active crash prevention technologies of drivers becoming too complacent. For example, drivers using vehicles fitted with adaptive or intelligent cruise control which uses sensors to determine the distance between itself and the vehicle in front and reduces vehicle speed to prevent a crash, have been known to wait for the vehicle to slow itself down in traffic instead of responding to hazards themselves. This can be incredibly risky as the system is unable to respond to any emergency developments, can often not stop the vehicle completely, and won’t start to slow the vehicle down until after the driver should already have begun to reduce speed. Clearly where active crash technology is implemented, firms need to ensure drivers do not rely too much on the technology to keep them safe.

Communication and education
So while it can have many benefits when used correctly, in-vehicle technology is not a panacea. Ensuring drivers are staying well within speed limits, are not distracted or under the influence of alcohol or drugs and are sufficiently well‑rested is vital to ensuring the safety of your fleet. In‑vehicle technology may help with this, but it can’t replace engaging and persuasive education and communication with drivers, rigorous risk assessment and monitoring, and a commitment to acting on the results provided by that monitoring as well data on fleet vehicles and journeys.
    
For example independent bus operator East Yorkshire Motor Services (EYMS) has also had great success introducing in-vehicle telematics. Having experienced some problems with driver resistance, EYMS implemented a high-quality driver training programme to address the most reluctant drivers. In 2011, the first year after introducing the system, EYMS made a fuel saving of five per cent, and reduced driver fault crashes by 40 per cent. In light of the crash reduction rate, the company’s insurer agreed to re-evaluate the size of the pot in the summer of 2011, bringing down EYMS’ insurance premiums.
    
The lesson for fleets is that telematics and in-vehicle technologies can have huge benefits, but only if implemented correctly. Simply adopting technology because it is available won’t necessarily help your fleet become greener and safer, and it may cause problems. With the wide range of technologies available to fleets, it’s incredibly important to find out which system will suit your organisational needs.

To support fleets in this task, Brake is also running a panel session on in-vehicle technology at this year’s Fleet Safety Conference in Solihull on 13 June. Conference attendance will allow fleet operators and managers to attend expert-lead seminars on community engagement and fleet safety, and effective partnership working. There will also be opportunities to network with other fleet operators and leading safety experts.

Further information
To access the report on using in vehicle technology to improve safety, email forum@brake.org.uk.
To book a place at the Fleet Safety Conference or for more information, email admin@brake.org.uk.
Alternatively visit www.fleetsafetyforum.org