SynX Blog

We all know (or should know) what best practices should be while driving: focusing on the road ahead of us, not daydreaming and not engaging in activities that take away our attention on our main task.

Despite this being very clear for everyone and especially more for those who work in the sector, research still shows people tend to get distracted while behind the wheel. According to a study we would like to share with you, commissioned by the insurance company Travelers, more than 90% of consumers surveyed in 2018 stated they worry about distraction caused by people using personal technology while driving. But despite this concern, according to the same study, more than one in five consumers admits to driving while using personal technology, such as a smartphone or tablet.

The infographic produced by Travelers on this claims that:

• Around the 40% of drivers are distracted on average for 15 minutes per hour during their trips;
• 85% of them understand using devices while driving is dangerous, but the 25% of them still engages in similar activities as they think they can do it safely;
• 23% of those who said they respond to personal texts, emails and calls while driving do so because they are afraid of missing out on something important.

It seems there is a clear clash between what drivers think it is safe and their perception and what is actually happening on the roads. But the worst is that these misperceptions are leading to collisions that can lead to injuries and losses. According to Travelers sources, around 40% of accidents happening in the state of Colorado are due to distracted driving.

The first step towards changing this type of behaviour should be being aware of it. Many drivers do feel that distracted driving is not their problem, as others do it and they feel they can do it without it being risky: but every second eyes are off the road can really have serious consequences.

Distracted driving and fatigue detection systems today have the power of protecting your team and finding out issues that can be corrected before it is too late. If you want to learn more about our new collision management solution, talk to us.

Photo by Dan Gold on Unsplash

With the growing concerns for the second wave of the Coronavirus pandemic spreading in Europe, governments and organisations start to be concerned about the mental health crisis happening aside of the physical one.

The driving activity continues to be a risky one per se, but given the circumstances of drivers being essential workers and due to the fact they might be more exposed to the virus, COVID-19-related risks are an extra reason for drivers to feel under pressure.

Engaging with drivers is now more important than ever: mental health can also have an impact on driving safety, making drivers more likely to take risks and less cautious. Fleets should keep the conversation open with drivers and be available for drivers to express any potential concern that might impact on their activity. Employees should have an easier access to mental health resources that can help them to release stress, to lead a healthy life and have a good sleep to prevent fatigue. So what are some of the steps fleets can take to do so?

Concentrate on mental health awareness. This should be done on different levels, from appointing a responsible for leading mental health activity, to offer mental health training on how to support staff with stress or mental health issues.

Know what employees think. Set up employee surveys to plan for mental health workplace policies and know how your team feels in different working situations to set up appropriate measures.

Offer regular assessment. Employees might feel more concerned about their skills because of the pressure coming from the job and the pandemic: make sure there is space for training and regular assessment to address their concerns.

Use technology to detect issues. There is many tools nowadays that can help prevent safety issues in fleets before they actually exist: think about telematics, collision management, distracted driver solutions that can also make your drivers themselves feel safer and relieved.

Photo by Victor Xok on Unsplash

Leading fleet management solutions provider, Transpoco Telematics, has launched a groundbreaking collision management system that uses cameras with Artificial Intelligence (AI) to detect driver fatigue and distraction providing for a comprehensive approach to the reduction of accidents.

With research showing that up to 40% of collisions occur as a result of driver fatigue, the technology is being welcomed by companies and organisations operating large fleets of vehicles who are looking to improve driver safety and reduce the cost associated with accidents.

Research undertaken by Transpoco into the causes of driver fault accidents has shown that in general:

• 40% are caused by fatigue
• 44% are caused by distraction
• 90% could have been avoided by using Advanced Collision Management and Driver Assistance System (ADAS) technology.

The Transpoco camera and data technology provides:

• warnings and alerts for drivers generated in cab for all incidents
• evidence of driver fatigue and distraction
• alerts available for review by the Fleet Manager
• full visual and data recording of all driving events.

The Transpoco collision management solution has already been commissioned by leading engineering solutions company, Actavo, which operates a global fleet of around 1500 Vehicles. Michael Burke, Actavo Group Fleet and Facilities Manager commented “By installing the advanced levels of technology provided by the Transpoco Collision Management system, we are leading the way in enhancing the safety for hundreds of our drivers, with the added benefit of fleet management efficiencies. This will result in our vehicles operating in the safest and most efficient way possible for our customers”.

A recent study conducted by the Dutch Institute for Road Safety has shown that a significant and increasing number of drivers plays videogames while behind the wheel: in 2019, 8.2 per cent of the drivers interviewed admitted they had sometimes played games while driving, an increase of the 3 per cent from a 2017 survey. 70 per cent of drivers have admitted to use their mobile phones in some way while driving. Despite the different restrictions in force in the European countries and internationally, distracted driving remains a growing concern.

According to the WHO, drivers using mobile phones are 4 times more likely to be involved in a crash than drivers not using a mobile phone, as using a phone while driving slows reaction times (notably braking reaction time, but also reaction to traffic signals) and makes it difficult to keep in the correct lane, and to keep the correct following distances.

According to different sources, with the lockdown distracted and dangerous driving have increased despite the traffic increasing in some countries, adding up to the risk associated with the driving profession and those deriving from the spread of Coronavirus.

The use of mobile phones behind the wheel can lead to different driver distractions:

• Visual (the eyes are not looking at the road);
• Cognitive (the mind is off the road);
• Physical (the hands are on the phone and not on the steering wheel);
• Auditory (minor, but referring to the ringing of the phone or notifications sounds).

Not having your eyes, mind, hands and ears on the road can have the same impact as being impaired because of drug or drink driving, provoking slower reaction, erratic driving and trouble in maintaining appropriate speed or distance, with a global reaction of driver awareness that can lead to serious consequences. Commercial drivers are especially at risk now because of the repetitiveness and multitasking nature of their job and as their mental health can be more influenced by the extra risks coming into place with COVID-19. Make sure you support your driving team and talk to us if you want to learn more on how to eliminate distracted driving in your fleet.

Photo by melissa mjoen on Unsplash

Global Fleet Champions, a not-for-profit global campaign to prevent crashes and reduce pollution caused by vehicles used for work purposes created by Brake, the road safety charity, has recently published a new valuable resource to help fleet managers tackle the challenges coming up with the COVID-19 pandemic.

The resource is a factsheet entitled Advice for fleet managers: Managing road risk during the COVID-19 pandemic, that covers some of the key road safety issues that have emerged with the Coronavirus crisis:

• Recruiting drivers to cover for possible absence/sick leave/quarantine of the workforce;
• Meeting an increased demand for deliveries;
• Ensuring a safe driving behaviour is taking place all the time;
• Reducing risks for cyclists or walkers as people tend to take public transport less.

As some research has revealed, quieter roads may lead to distraction or tempt drivers to speed, and the pressures of lockdown may encourage drivers who drink to drink more or consume drugs.

The factsheet gives simple tips on how to manage journeys, ensure vehicle safety, and look after driver wellbeing especially those coming back from lockdown, as well as giving guidance on what to consider when recruiting and training new drivers to meet increased demands for deliveries and other services.

Scott Williams, head of programme delivery at Brake, the road safety charity, said: “COVID-19 has changed the road environment around the world and has created new challenges for fleet managers. It is more important than ever that fleet managers review their policies and procedures to manage work-related road risk."

You can find the resource on the Global Fleet Champions website at https://globalfleetchampions.org/resources/factsheet-managing-road-risk-during-the-covid-19-pandemic/.

According to a survey carried out by CameraMatics and made public by Fleet News, the majority of HGV drivers do not carry out walkaround checks before starting their journeys. The survey was conducted on more than 500 drivers, both in Ireland and in the UK, to ask about the frequency of vehicle inspections.

2 in 5 HGV drivers (39.3%) said they never do walkaround checks, and a further 15.8% rarely complete checks, totalling more than half (55.1%) of respondents not carrying out regular walkaround checks. Just under a third of the interviewed (29.4%) completes these vehicle checks, with 15.5% doing it regularly.

The DVSA reported in January 2020 that 85% of lorry defects can be picked up during a walkaround check. Drivers and their companies can get fines and sanctions or even a prison sentence if they use vehicles that are not roadworthy or cause an accident that could have been prevented with adequate walkaround vehicle checks.

According to the same survey, more than 50% of the over 250 HGV fleet managers interviewed use a pen and paper system for checks.

Our walkaround app, available with SynX Maintain, can help you streamline the vehicle inspection process, comes with an HGV checklist that is customisable depending on the needs of every fleet and company - don't hesitate to contact us to learn more: not having a reliable system for walkaround checks can cost you a lot.

With the coronavirus pandemic still growing and no solution or vaccine being ready, the future of vans and cars will presumably be different, with car journeys under scrutiny and carried out only if absolutely necessary, while for vans journey the approach will be more towards efficiency, with the need for vans as goods delivery vehicles being clear.

With the need of minimising close contact between people and videoconferencing proposed as an alternative, it seems there will be a reduction in the use of fleet cars and company cars, while van trips are being undertaken as the reason behind them is generally because a delivery is needed or a contractor is required in a particular place.

According to a recent survey carried out by Fleet News, fewer vans than company cars have been standing idle during lockdown. Two-in-five fleets (41.5%) said they were operating more than 75% of their light commercial vehicles (LCVs), while according to more than half the respondents (57.3%) the majority of company cars they operate were not being driven for work. More than two-in-five (43.3%) said that less than a third of the vehicles on their company car fleet were being driven for work.

It seems company cars will probably carry out less journeys as long as COVID-19 is not under control, although business visits will continue to be important as well as company cars as employee benefit. The pandemic will probably lead to a change in our habits and vision connected to company cars.

The annual Fleet Transport Awards event, which was scheduled on October 1st, 2020 to take place in Dublin, is going virtual because of the uncertainties around travelling and gatherings.

The 15th edition of the event will focus on the Transport Heros: haulage, logistic companies and passenger transport operators will be celebrated and honoured for their COVID-19 response. The nominations will soon be announced.

The annual Irish Truck of the Year Awards, is also changing and the categories of the Best Fleet Truck Brand of the Year Award 2021 and the Best Fleet Van Brand of the Year Award 2021 will be introduced, with judging criteria here including responses from the truck distributors and fleet operators running multibrand vehicles.

"With an event of its size, we had to consider the health and safety of our patrons, attendees, sponsors and exhibitors. Therefore, we are hosting the Fleet Transport Awards event online on the planned date of Thursday, 1 October 2020,” explained Jarlath Sweeney, Group Editor, Fleet Publications.

“We look forward to getting back to the ‘big stage’ event next year with a special setting but in the meantime we are planning an interesting online presentation of our awards on our set date, presented once again by RTE Radio 1 presenter Shay Byrne,” he concluded.

COVID-19 has already both officially and unofficially imposed changes on the way we do things, but chances are that the list is going to continue.

The lockdown measures and the new normal state in which extreme caution is recommended as well as avoiding possible sources of unnecessary contact have resulted in fleet managers having to control their vehicles from home. Particularly, a survey carried out by Fleet News has shown that a huge majority of fleet managers and decision-makers (around 73% of the interviewed) were working from home while only one in ten was working from home and the office and just around 15% was in the office on a full-time basis.

Those who drive their car for work, that is, the so-called members of what is known as grey fleets, might also see the consequences of that. If employees will become home-based in the future and no longer office-based, the journeys they will take for the purpose of their job will most likely be seen as business trips although they start from the home of the employee - and their contact and conditions might also change accordingly.

With people tending to rely less on public transport to seek for a higher personal security, chances are that personal vehicles would end up being driven for work purposes and become part of the grey fleet - with employers having the legal obligation that those vehicles are safe to be used and fit for their purpose.

If you are looking into controlling your fleet from home (or any other place) or recording and differentiate business and personal trips, be aware this is not something new for us at Transpoco - talk to us to learn how to do it with our fleet management solution.