DRIVER AND ROAD SAFETY

TELEMATICS IS THE FUTURE

Video telematics is fast becoming mainstream and the way forward for road safety, writes GERT PRETORIUS, executive vice president and managing director of MiX Telematics Africa

Reducing driver distraction and fatigue are key to improving driver, passenger and road safety. Evidence-based footage provides additional context to help improve driver behaviour and coaching, allowing companies to exonerate claims against their drivers and reduce insurance costs in the process.

Improvements in technology and the proliferation of consumer dashcam devices are driving greater awareness and adoption in fleets around the world and across all industries. While video telematics started as a niche application and an add-on to vehicle telematics, it is fast becoming mainstream.

AI MAKES AN ENTRANCE

The next generation of video telematics solutions, designed to optimise driver safety and minimise fleet operating costs, will encompass artificial intelligence (AI). This represents an extensive upgrade to traditional video telematics offerings, further enhancing the capability of the technology to assist global fleet customers.

AI leverages machine vision technology to detect and alert drivers and managers to unsafe or risky driving behaviour that affects road safety. Driver monitoring events include fatigue, phone use, distraction, smoking and seat-belt use, while passive advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) events include forward collision and lane departure warnings. Further, in-cab, audible alerts warn drivers in real-time via an onboard computer, ensuring that immediate corrective action can be taken. Video footage is also made available to fleet managers, via extensive online software coupled with mobile apps, allowing for extended driver coaching.

VISUAL EVIDENCE

Such fully integrated video telematics solutions combine comprehensive video and vehicle telematics data into a single platform. On-road or in-cab video footage, linked to driving or vehicle events, is transmitted automatically and available online. Users can also request time-based, continuous video extracts for detailed incident analysis. Advanced telematics’ platforms also cater for livestreaming, giving fleet operators greater visibility into their operational efficiency.

Dashcam systems based on AI, in the form of machine vision, translate what is happening in real-time, without human input. So, dashcams not only provide the video footage, but also render the “event” data that is used to coach drivers to effectively address their risky driving behaviour before this culminates in potentially hazardous events. By channelling relevant information directly to drivers and fleet owners,

FULLY INTEGRATED VIDEO TELEMATICS SOLUTIONS COMBINE COMPREHENSIVE VIDEO AND VEHICLE TELEMATICS DATA INTO A SINGLE PLATFORM. ON-ROAD OR IN-CAB VIDEO FOOTAGE, LINKED TO DRIVING OR VEHICLE EVENTS, IS TRANSMITTED AUTOMATICALLY AND AVAILABLE ONLINE.

FAST FACT

App-based tracking solutions are perfect for customers running subcontractor vehicles, leased vehicles, company cars, short-term rentals or grey fleets. They are a cost-effective and impactful alternative to installing a hard-wired onboard computer or tracking device inside a vehicle. Source: MiX Telematics Africa

AI-enabled dashcams offer a far more effective and efficient way of improving and maintaining safe and fuel-efficient driving standards.

Together with AI-driven video telematics, innovative app-based tracking for vehicles and drivers is also becoming the norm, extending the ability to help customers improve driver safety and control the risks involved in managing diverse and dynamic fleets.

DID YOU KNOW?

Traditional dashcam systems merely capture video footage of what is happening on the road and in the vehicle for future viewing (by a person). However, this means having to go through a lot of video footage to find what they are looking for and then only are they “armed” with the visual evidence to act. Source: MiX Telematics Africa

TRACKING VIA APP

App-based tracking leverages mobile phone technology for real-time tracking of drivers, including drivers of noncore or rental fleets, while also recording, measuring and enabling real-time self-correction of risky driving behaviour. These include speeding, harsh braking, harsh acceleration and mobile phone use while driving. Such solutions are an extension of a comprehensive driver engagement app that also equips drivers with valuable information and alerts to improve their driving style, including immediate in-cab audible feedback.

For over two decades, valuable information has been delivered to customers using in-vehicle hardware to help improve the safety, efficiency, security and compliance of vehicles and drivers.

Fixed-install devices continue to provide the appropriate enabling technology for many fleets. Meanwhile, tracking apps provide a practical and cost-effective option to expand management coverage to short-term vehicles or those not owned by the company, without the need to install hardware.

This gives fleet managers 100 per cent visibility of unsafe or inefficient driving behaviour on all trips, while creating opportunities to further improve safety and efficiency outcomes through additional training and the implementation of new processes or rules.