There's no doubt the pandemic has changed the way we drive. Lockdowns forcing people off the road has led to a blunting of driving skills, while the return to work has shaken up traffic patterns, with traffic volume akin to peak hour occurring at any time – and unpredictably – throughout the day. Those aspects of driving we'd built habits and schedules around can no longer be relied on, and with that unfamiliarity comes increased risk.
But is your team driving to mitigate those risks? Two in three drivers self-rate as very good to excellent1, but still engage in unsafe driving behaviours like texting or speeding. According to a Victorian Transport Accident Commission survey, one-third of drivers admit to using their mobile phones illegally while driving and 39% admit to intentionally speeding in a 60km zone2.
So, what to do? Hours off the road in driver training is far from productive, and you must ask how effective that training can be when most drivers already know good habits from bad.
So here at Smartfleet, we're taking a fresh approach to driver safety with the new Mentor App by eDriving, a unique risk management solution that helps foster a safer driving culture, reduce the risk of accidents, and increase the efficiency of your fleet.
Proactively improves driver behaviour
The Mentor App measures actual driving behaviours behind the wheel as you drive, and at the end of each trip a Safe Driving Score is calculated to predict the likelihood of future incidents, and all drivers are provided with highly engaging, in-app "micro-training" videos to address their specific risk factors. Drivers considered most at risk receive a higher level of coaching to improve driving behaviour and efficiency.
Modules are short - three to five minutes in length - and can be taken on a smartphone or tablet anywhere and anytime.
Reduces the cost of ownership, increases fleet efficiency
Effective driver training delivers financial benefits for fleet owners and managers, too, not only from a reduction in the costs associated with accidents and external liability claims but decreased injuries and lost workdays, vehicle wear and tear, and fuel consumption.
Easy to implement
The first thing to highlight is how easy this solution is to implement: the app is downloaded to a smartphone and, when activated, taps into the phone's accelerometer and GPS sensors to collect and analyse aspects of driver behaviour, including acceleration, braking, cornering and speeding, as well as phone distractions, and uses real-time insights to recommend adjustments to improve driver safety and overall efficiency.
Fosters a crash-free culture
Another element critical to the success of the Mentor App is the gamification that drives friendly competition between colleagues so that safety behind the wheel becomes part of everyday conversation. Managers are also provided with real-time information to help reinforce good driving habits through awareness and accountability.
If driver safety and fleet efficiency are steering your business decisions in 2022, consider how the Mentor App could help you meet your objectives.
To learn more and to arrange a demonstration, speak with your Client Relationship Manager or call 1300 555 665.
Sources
1 http://www.nsc.org/NewsDocuments/2017/12-month-estimates.pdf