How AI and Machine Learning Simplify Fatigue Management
Keeping your eyes on the road is essential when driving, regardless if you’re going to the shops, roundtripping, or driving as part of your job. But when you look at your phone or you get distracted by passing scenery, you become oblivious to what’s around you. Even momentarily, it’s dangerous.
New Zealand businesses that operate a fleet of vehicles are growingly facing a lingering challenge: driver distraction. Increasing driver safety is a top business challenge1 as it remains a serious threat to road safety and fleet operations. With the summer months bringing busier roads and longer journeys, the risks associated with driver distraction become even greater.
In fact, for every 100 drivers or riders who died in crashes where diverted attention was a factor, 33 of their passengers and 44 other road users lost their lives as well2. It can be difficult to identify whether a driver’s attention was diverted during an incident, this under-representation of distraction means that this danger is even more prevalent than the numbers suggest.
The hidden dangers of distraction
While distractions behind the wheel are diverse and pervasive, 70 percent of businesses have experienced the impact of distracted driving incidents with 68 percent identifying mobile phone use as the leading cause3.
Mobile phone use is the obvious culprit, drivers are also distracted by eating, adjusting music or controls, talking to the passenger(s), or even dealing with pets or upset children. For professional drivers in particular, long hours spent alone in the cab can lead drivers to seek connection. In focusing on something other than driving, driver’s might maintain an inconsistent speed, frustrating those around them, or worse, drifting in and out of the lane. Furthermore, they might miss traffic changes – such as changing traffic lights --- causing them to miss pedestrians or cyclists, or miss the driver in front breaking suddenly, increasing the risk of a crash.4
The biggest of the hidden dangers is a reduced reaction time. If you’re preoccupied while behind the while and something occurs around you, you have less time to react and create a safe environment. Even a brief distraction lasting just two seconds can have far-reaching consequences, turning a minor lapse in attention into a potentially life-threatening incident.
Reducing driver distraction in a proactive way
What can fleet managers do to mitigate the risks of distracted driving? The first step is clear communication. Fleet owners need to ensure that drivers understand the full scope of what distracted driving includes. Even behaviours that seem ordinary, like eating behind the wheel, can have serious consequences, but further ensuring that drivers have ample time to eat or rest as part of the daily schedule is important. That way drivers aren’t pushed for time and feel forced to eat on the road. It may seem trivial, but it’s important for safety.
Other simple actions can be taken to help to reduce distractions including:
- Use the 'Do Not Disturb' While Driving function or on silent on driver’s smart phones.
- Setting directions, music playlist, or working tasks prior to starting the vehicle.
- Encouraging your drivers to pull over safely or wait until your journey has finished to answer calls, even letting calls go to voicemail and not responding to messages until the next break.
- Discouraging the use of personal auxiliary devices, such as headphones to listen to music, to ensure they can hear traffic, cyclists, and pedestrians.
Turning to technology
A growing number of businesses are turning to video telematics as an innovative solution to reduce distractions and improve driver safety. This technology connects real-time video footage with driver behaviour metrics, enabling fleet managers to identify potentially hazardous situations before they escalate.
Teletrac Navman’s video telematics system offers a comprehensive approach to fleet safety. The fully integrated camera solution allows fleet managers to utilise a range of cameras across their fleets and access insight from one central console in the TN360 platform. Using artificial intelligence (AI), it monitors both the road ahead and the driver’s actions. This real-time monitoring can detect signs of distracted or drowsy driving, providing an immediate alert to the fleet manager and offering insights into driver behaviour.
When a distraction or other driving event is detected, the system records and securely uploads high-definition footage to the cloud for immediate review. Fleet managers can access this footage through a telematics platform, allowing them to assess the situation, determine next steps, and provide targeted feedback to the driver.
In addition to real-time video monitoring, advanced driver assistance features that can help prevent incidents before they happen. For example, the system provides real-time audio alerts for high-risk behaviours such as lane departure or tailgating. These notifications can prompt drivers to take corrective actions in the moment, reducing the likelihood of incidents.
Encourage improvements through Driver Safety Scorecards
While technology is essential, ongoing driver education and coaching remain crucial components of a comprehensive safety strategy. Drivers often gain confidence with experience, but this can lead to overconfidence, especially when it comes to multitasking. That’s why continuous training and regular assessments of driver performance are necessary.
Teletrac Navman’s Driver Safety Scorecard, part of the TN360 platform, provides fleet managers with a powerful tool to track driver behaviour over time. It allows fleet managers to monitor performance, identify areas for improvement, and assess risk levels across the entire fleet. By using objective data to evaluate driving habits, managers can spot trends, identify drivers who may require additional training, and even assess insurance risks.
The Driver Safety Scorecard also serves as a motivating tool for drivers, giving them a clear understanding of how their actions affect their safety and the safety of others. By providing real-time feedback and setting performance goals, fleet managers can encourage safer driving behaviours and foster a culture of continuous improvement.
As we work to build a culture of safety, fleet managers must remain vigilant about the ongoing risks of distracted driving. The power to prevent distractions and the incidents that often follow lies in the hands of fleet managers. With the right tools, technology, and training, New Zealand transport businesses can help ensure that their drivers remain focused and safe, year-round.
1 2024 Telematics Survey, Teletrac Navman.
2 Ministry of Transport, New Zealand.