Category: Vehicle Tracking

The introduction of new automatic intelligent speed assistance (ISA) technology in vehicles as standard in the coming years could help to save countless lives on Europe’s roads, road safety organisation GEM Motoring Assist has claimed.

Speed a factor in one-third of deaths

Following the publication of new figures on road safety by the European Transport Safety Council, GEM has highlighted the fact that on urban and rural roads where the majority of fatalities occur,  was shown to be a factor in one-third of all road deaths.

As a result, GEM is championing the mandatory introduction of ISA technology for all new vehicles by 2022, with the body claiming that to do so could see a reduction in the number of fatalities across Europe by up to 20 per cent.

ISA a potential game-changer

Highlighting the UK’s future need for this technology, GEM road safety officer Neil Worth commented: “Whatever Brexit arrangement is finally decided, we have the commitment from prime minister Theresa May that ‘UK and EU regulatory standards will remain substantially similar in the future’.”

As a result, he argued that “this matters every bit as much to a safer future on the roads of the UK as to any other country”.

Ellie Baker, brand manager at Fuel Card Services, comments: “A future where speeding and the devastating consequences of this behaviour is taken out of the hands of the driver and is automatically eliminated by assistive technologies is one we can all hope to see.”

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Fleet operators across the UK should be focused on safety. As a result, they should highlight to staff who carry heavy loads in their vehicles to remember this fact and amend their behaviour behind the wheel.

Heavy loads add stopping distance

New research published by Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles (VCV) has revealed how carrying a half-tonne of equipment in a standard van can increase its braking distance by up to 36 per cent. This equates to an extra five metres of stopping distance travelled when a vehicle brakes from 60 mph.

Testing was carried out by the company at the MIRA Proving Grounds in Nuneaton using the manufacturer’s range of Caddy, Transporter and Crafter vans. It simulated realistic stopping distances for the vehicles when carrying a range of different loads.

Be ready to brake

Responding to the research, VCV director Carl zu Dohna said: “Braking distances in the Highway Code are based on an advised standard and don’t take into account the loads that many van drivers carry. Our research highlights an important safety message that van drivers could really benefit from.”

Mr zu Dohna went on to add that adapting your driving style to take into account the additional braking distance required when transporting heavy loads can therefore be crucial in helping to save lives and to better avoid costly, and potentially serious, accidents.

Jenny Smith, product manager for Tele-Gence, comments: “Anyone transporting a heavy load should appreciate the change in driving style that this requires. Failing to do so not only places themselves in danger, but also other road users and innocent parties.”

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The Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC) is a collaborative non-profit set up by the government and industry. The APC has helped to provide in excess of £86 million in investment for the nation’s low-emission automotive sector.

A total of 87 small-to-medium-sized enterprises have so far been supported by the body, helping to cement the UK’s position as a leading light in the development of new technologies to promote low-emission driving and enhanced efficiency.

The work and support offered by the APC is designed to lower the barriers to market for companies with innovative ideas and technologies. One such business to have received great benefit from their work with the APC has been Sunderland-based battery technology firm Hyperdrive.

Indeed, Hyperdrive commercial director Stephen Irish commented: “The APC has been a genuine catalyst for change. We have averaged an 80 per cent staff increase each year since we began.”

He added that the APC project has been “absolutely critical” to supporting this growth, as has the company’s ongoing collaboration with binding partners.

Jenny Smith, general manager for Tele-Gence, commented: “Genuine and ongoing government support for more new businesses to operate in the low-emission automotive sector can only be a good thing, not only for companies themselves, but for the environment, for drivers and the nation as a whole.”

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Revealed: Why motorists choose telematics insurance

Telematics insurance has been on a steady rise for years now, and new research has revealed that the biggest reason why is … cost.

Almost half (47 per cent) of the 1,500 UK drivers that took part in a recent survey said cheaper car insurance was the main factor behind their decision to have a telematics-based insurance policy.

More than a third (36 per cent) said they opted for telematics insurance in case it helped track their car if it was stolen, while three in ten (31 per cent) hoped it would help with claim management after a car accident.

Over a quarter of the survey sample reckoned telematics insurance provided a financial incentive to drive safely (29 per cent) and help to increase self-awareness of their own driving style (27 per cent).

Separate research by BIBA (British Insurance Brokers’ Association) revealed there are now nearly one million telematics policies live in the UK – up by nearly 30 per cent on 2016’s figure.

Despite these obvious incentives, it seems the insurance sector still has work to do in terms of convincing UK drivers of telematics’ benefits – nearly 30 per cent of those surveyed stated they could think of no reasons to change from traditional motor insurance policies.

Dr Colin Smithers, chief executive of Redtail Telematics – which commissioned the survey, believes developments in the car insurance market have the potential to revolutionise the way we drive and how we guard against the risks of poor driver behaviour.

He commented: “The increased use of telematics has important implications for anyone who might consider taking up a a telematics-based insurance policy, policymakers and for society as a whole.

“Widespread use of telematics is also likely to lead to better driving and fewer fatalities.”

Jez Strong, general manager for Tele-Gence, commented: “The benefits of telematics are well documented, but it’s interesting to see why people are keen to include the tech in their insurance policy.”

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Photo: plusphoto/iStock

More than a quarter of fatal road accidents are caused by drivers who have fallen asleep at the wheel, government figures suggest.

The latest road casualty statistics from the Department for Transport show that drowsy drivers were to blame for 53 fatal and 351 serious crashes in 2017.

However, the true figure for fatigue-related crashes is believed to be much higher due to under-reporting, with up to 25 per cent of fatal accidents estimated to have been caused by people who have dropped off driving.

An online poll of 20,561 UK drivers in September found that one in eight (13 per cent) have fallen asleep at the wheel.

In addition, close to two in five (37 per cent) admitted that they have been so tired they have been worried they would fall asleep when driving.

Who is most likely to drive tired?

Men were deemed to be three times as likely as women to say they have fallen asleep at the wheel (17 to five per cent).

The research raised concern that young drivers, aged between 18 and 24, are the most at-risk. This group was found to be the most likely to say tiredness doesn’t affect their driving ability (13 per cent compared to two per cent of all drivers), as well as being the most likely age group to say they normally carry on driving if they feel tired (18 to three per cent).

Close to three in five (57 per cent) stop for a break as soon as they realised they might be too tired to drive. This figure dropped to just 34 per cent for 18-24-year olds.

One in ten (11 per cent) knew they were tired when they began their journey, increasing to  29 per cent for 18-24-year olds.

When asked why they were so tired, almost two in five (39 per cent) said they’d had a hard day at work, while a third blamed the monotony of the journey.

Around a quarter pinned their tiredness on trying to cover too much distance in one day and a lack of sleep the night before.

Tiredness is inevitable, managing it is crucial

Edmund King, AA Charitable Trust director, believes that drowsiness is one of the most underestimated risks on the roads.

“Tiredness is a fact of life at some point for most of us and it is crucial we know how to manage it in relation to driving,” he commented.

“Crashes involving a drowsy driver tend to be catastrophic. If a driver has fallen asleep at the wheel, they do not brake before an impact and make no attempt to steer away from a collision.”

Jez Strong, general manager for Tele-Gence, added: “Some drivers wind down the window or turn up the radio to wake themselves up. But the truth is that the only remedy is to take a break.”

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