The future for fleets is bright - the future is green, amber and red

Trimble MRM, a market leader in telematics technology, has launched a state-of-the-art monitoring system called Driver Safety, which allows fleet managers to assess driver behaviour by scrutinising the thousands of manoeuvres and actions made during journeys.

In the vehicle, drivers are given pointers on their safety performance via audible beeps and red, amber and green lights in the cab.

Back at the office, Driver Safety relays real-time safety information back to managers to see how well or poorly their vehicles and drivers are performing.

If a driver is travelling too fast, braking too harshly, accelerating quickly or even cornering too severely the system will warn the person at the wheel. The system reports specific violations and averages driving events over distance and time to create a safety score.

If the driver sees a green light, the vehicle is being handled within acceptable guidelines, an amber light is a warning and a red light alerts the driver to stop dangerous or unacceptable practices.

This detailed breakdown of how vehicles are being handled can then enable fleet managers to make recommendations on how driver skills can be improved. Excellent driving skills can also be identified and rewarded.

“The platform we have developed will spark a revolution in the way fleet vehicles are driven. The safety advantages and economic and CSR benefits are clear,” says Andrew Yeoman, MD of Trimble MRM in Europe.

“Driver Safety doesn’t just mean the safety of a fleet driver but of all road users. If the thousands of fleet drivers on our roads are driving more carefully thanks to technology then the benefits can be felt by more than just the driver.”

Katie Shephard, from the road safety charity Brake, says: “Vehicles driven for work are the highest-mileage on our roads, so their safety is paramount.

“Surveys show, due to the pressures of work, that fleet drivers are more likely than other drivers to admit to speeding, talking on a mobile phone and driving when tired, so management of driver safety by companies is vital.

“Companies also need stringent standards of safe vehicle maintenance. While reputable companies operating all kinds of vehicles are increasingly introducing higher standards of road risk management than in the past, thanks to initiatives such as Brake’s Fleet Safety Forum, there continue to be horrendous tragedies caused by badly driven and badly maintained fleet vehicles of all kinds.”

Trimble’s technology can also have significant implications for fleet insurance, as reduced risks could mean lower premiums and reduced claims.

“Insurance companies like businesses which demonstrate accountability. Driver Safety is about being accountable,” says Yeoman.

Driver Safety also incorporates a number of other innovative features which have been developed in response to Trimble’s customer requirements.