Smart Video, Smart Drivers: Modern Fleet Safety

The technology of tomorrow is here today. Dash cams and smart video backed by artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning are taking off and helping businesses make impactful changes, especially when integrated with telematics technology. In fact, according to Government Fleet, “Commercial fleet adoption of telematics systems is expected to […] increase to 20 million units in three years from the current 13 million units, due to the growing popularity of GPS fleet and asset management systems and increasing interest in video-based driver management products and other solutions.”¹

The potential for smart video technology to have significant safety implications fuels much of this expected growth. Fleet Owner conducted a 2016 study estimating that video could reduce fatal crashes by 20% and injury crashes by 35%, and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) recommends that heavy truck and bus fleets use video recorder technology.² Frost & Sullivan’s projection that “annual growth of more than 22%, bringing the number of vehicles with video-based systems to over one million by 2020” is supported by such widespread support for the potential impact video could have on safety.²

Telematics and video technology: A perfect match for fleets

Safety is paramount for the modern fleet, as most fleet drivers travel 20,000 to 25,000 miles or more each year, increasing their exposure to crash risks,³ and on average, 20% of a company’s fleet will be involved in an accident this year.⁴ But if your business relies on a mobile workforce, you likely understand how hard it is to get a complete sense of what drivers and vehicles are experiencing on the roads in addition to gathering and analyzing other data points and metrics to help improve efficiency while reducing costs.

An integrated system that seamlessly provides telematics and video data in a single platform offers an invaluable depth of knowledge to businesses. Especially when powered by AI, smart video solutions can automatically classify events by severity and minimize the burden of even more data on fleet owners and managers of situations by only alerting them to events that require immediate attention. Machine learning using collected data continuously improve its analysis and accuracy of assessments over time, adding to its usefulness over time. Smart video solutions also serve as an unbiased witness, an incomparable driver training tool, and a data goldmine to support advanced analytics efficiency and cost measures.

Smart video fuels smart business with total visibility

To help fleets better navigate the road toward video adoption, our new ebook highlights the major benefits fleets can realize from this next-generation technology. Dive in to learn more about the following ways that smart video can help your organization:

• Protect your investment: One of the most valuable benefits of an AI-enabled, integrated video solution is that it can help businesses who employ drivers or mobile workers protect their hard-earned reputations without increasing workload. The use of video and telematics data to create a complete picture empowers fleets to protect vehicles, employees, and other drivers on the road, while enabling them to effectively address false liability claims.
• Reinforce trust and boost confidence: It’s common to hear objections about technology that collects data or tracks movement, but smart technology can actually increase trust within your organization if implemented and messaged well. Suspicion is exacerbated by lack of information, so take every opportunity to establish trust and cooperation from the start by providing access to live demos and having candid conversations with all employees to promote the benefits of video technology.
• Use facts over assumption in coaching: Businesses using telematics already have a leg up on driver coaching, but video technology enhances coaching efforts by providing real context around areas for improvement. Use data about an event, such as speed and routes driven, with actual footage for customized and more effective driver coaching and safety programs.

What to look for in the whole technology package

Our ebook also investigates what to look for in a fleet-wide smart video solution itself. Video solutions have come a long way, and innovations in hardware and analysis tools such as AI and machine learning mean there’s even more to learn before you sign that contract. For example, the right technology for your organization should be intuitive and easily integrate with existing telematics and GPS systems.

Features to note can include:

• Wide sightline, field of view
• Ability to transmit directly to a single-source
• Mobile, email and desktop alerts when new video footage is available
• Ability to seamlessly access the right information with a single login
• AI-backed machine learning analytics that classify videos by severity of event

For an in-depth dive into the major benefits of fleet video, and to learn more about how it can positively impact operations, download your copy of our new ebook today.

Sources

¹https://www.government-fleet.com/323629/telematics-market-expected-to-see-explosive-near-term-growth

²https://www.fleetowner.com/technology/fleets-expand-use-cab-video-driver-training-accident-prevention

³https://www.automotive-fleet.com/303123/fleet-safety-metrics-reverse-negatively-accidents-increase

⁴https://www.constructionequipment.com/true-costs-fleet-accidents