In a recent webinar event held by Global Fleet Champions and sponsored by Teletrac Navman speakers Dr Oscar Oviedo-Trespalacios, Chris L’Ecluse and Grant Lowe explained the results of distracted driving and the solutions out there to help solve it.
As a fleet manager your drivers face challengers on the road – the world is rife with distractions and as we keep seeing, the mobile phone has become harder to ignore.
Mobile phone use has become one of the most prevalent reasons for distracted driving.
Dr Oscar Oviedo-Trespalacios, a Strategic Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Accident Research & Road Safety – Queensland (CARRS-Q) at Queensland University of Technology (QUT) explained the analytical data surrounding phone use while driving. Voice-auditory interactions and driving support app interactions (ie Navigation) being the biggest issues relating to mobile phone use.
Chris L’Ecluse, Solutions Specialist at Teletrac Navman explained while mobile phone use can be cause for concern, the devices can be used legally while driving, provided phone cradles, Bluetooth or other acceptable avenues are used.
In the process of eliminating driver distractions proactive driver coaching, health and safety policy and the use of technology can all have a positive effect in changing driver behaviour around distracted driving.
In addition to driver training and communication, there are also technological solutions to help reduce the risk of distraction.
Improving coaching with technology
- Footage, data, analytics, events, alerts
- The future in the digital space, address the changes in business and how it is an opportunity to invite change
- AI cameras, advanced dashcams can capture driver behaviour, reading speed limits and driving patterns and are able to send real time alerts to drivers to correct their behaviour.
- Telematics, provide real time data of vehicle use (breaking, swerving, fuel consumption, speeding)
Grant Lowe, General Manager with Summerland Express Freight Ltd explained the real-life applications and success AI cameras or smart dashcams have had at combating distracted driving in a fleet setting.
These cameras were able to catch a phone screens light reflected in a driver’s window, showing the prevalent issue of mobile use while driving. Dashcams also protect the driver and the organisation from incidents caused by another driver.
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