Telematics is a common method of monitoring driver behavior in your fleet and identifying possible risks. You can leverage data to correct driver behavior in areas such as distracted driving, speeding, Motor Vehicle (MVR) Points, Accident Data, Hard Acceleration and Deceleration, and much more.
Monitoring these data points and using them to proactively correct risky driver behavior helps fleet managers increase the overall safety of their fleet and maintain their public image.
Distracted Driving Consequences
You’ve heard it before. Distracted Driving is increasingly becoming a top issue among fleets. Traffic safety experts classify distractions into three main types: Manual, Visual and Cognitive.
Texting involves all three types of distractions. According to a study at the University of Utah, “People are as impaired when they drive and talk on a cell phone as they are when they drive intoxicated at the legal blood-alcohol limit of 0.08%.” The U.S. Department of Transportation reported that “Text messaging increases the risk of crash or near-crash by 23 times.” And, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), “sending or reading a text message takes your eyes off the road for about 5 seconds, long enough to cover a football field while driving at 55mph.” Now factor in a two-ton big rig going 70 miles an hour, and that makes a lethal combination.
According to the Department of Labor, statistics indicate that there are more than 680,000 commercial carriers, and 1.8 million long-haul, over-the-road (OTR) drivers. Of the approximate 41,000 Americans killed each year in traffic accidents, nearly 5,000 die as a result of crashes involving these large trucks. Given the number of commercial vehicle drivers on our highways and these staggering statistics on distracted driving, this is a huge issue of public safety that needs to continue to be center stage in our industry discussions.
Utilizing Telematics to Correct Risky Behavior
What can you do to implement safety practices in your operation?
- Enforce the federal ban on texting (announced in January 2010) prohibiting texting by drivers of commercial vehicles, which issues penalties of up to $2,750 for truck or bus drivers who text while driving.
- Establish a strict safety policy, with buy-in from leadership.
- Manage driver behavior with the implementation of a Telematics System. Specifically focusing on insights such as hard stop data can potentially identify distracted driving.
Improve your Fleet Operations through Driver Behavior
Telematics Data and a robust Fleet Management Software solution can measure driver behavior and provide you with the data and insight you need to make necessary changes to your operation. And, RTA Fleet Management Software can integrate any Telematics Solution into our software, so you’ll have all of your data at your fingertips. Contact us today to learn more.