5 Ways Vehicle Tracking can Improve Safety

Safety is an integral part of managing a fleet and a top reason businesses look at vehicle tracking as a long-term solution

With vehicle tracking, you get insight into events that phone calls and texts can’t deliver, such as real-time vehicle locations and routing, insight into driving behaviour and compliance, and more. Here are five ways vehicle tracking can improve safety for fleets:

Monitoring driving behaviour 

Having insight into how your drivers perform on the road is essential to keeping costs low, drivers safe, and customers happy. Vehicle tracking systems give you access to safety analytics and actionable data you can use to track poor driving habits. You can easily monitor how fast a vehicle speeds in specific areas, when harsh braking occurred and sharp turns happened, and see acceleration rates, helping you pinpoint areas of concern and coach your drivers as needed. By curbing bad driving behaviour, you help increase the longevity of your fleet through less wear and tear, fewer accidents, and lower fuel costs.

Customised driver training

Vehicle tracking solutions help you break down driving behaviour that could lead to serious incidents or events down the road. Through actionable data, you can keep an eye on poor behaviour, spot trends and patterns of bad driving for each of your drivers. These analytical tools give you insight into driving habits no matter the size of your business. You can use the information to customise training sessions for individuals and groups with specific driving habits and reward the good drivers who keep your business safe. This helps to ensure you're training and coaching through areas that actually requires work.

Improve vehicle maintenance

A fleet is as good as the shape it’s in. The right vehicle tracking system gives you insight into your fleet’s health by reporting on a vehicle’s maintenance or service needs. With vehicle tracking software, you can set thresholds and custom alerts for pre-trip inspections and maintenance based on odometer readings from the vehicle. This lets you monitor and support your fleet’s longevity and stay ahead of any costly repairs or unnecessary services that stem from unmaintained assets.

Reduce accidents

Vehicle tracking software isn’t simply about monitoring vehicles––it helps guide your team in unforeseen events and weather conditions you wouldn’t be able to track otherwise. When out on a job or delivery, drivers navigate unfamiliar territory and often in unexpected climate, exposing them to potential risks. Technology helps to not only identify, but mitigate risks that are cause from unpredictable situations that arise on the road, poor driver behaviour or other events. 

Another common feature included with vehicle tracking solutions, in-cab devices use GPS technology with street-level maps and data available in web-based dispatch systems to give turn-by-turn directions to keep drivers out of harm’s way.

Adhere to compliance and regulations

Tired drivers and the open road is a dangerous and often costly combination. Laws, rules and regulations are in place to ensure drivers get the rest they need and work the hours required to maintain a good work-life balance. Tools are available to help drivers and the business to stay aware and ensure their fatigue are in compliance with industry measures. Vehicle tracking software also enables you to set alerts and send messages to your drivers for break reminders and other compliance-related tasks. Businesses can count on drivers to remain compliant and rest between and during their shifts, reducing the number of traffic incidents involving drivers, violations, and costly fines across your fleet.