By the end of 2013 there were 35 million licensed vehicles in Great Britain[1] and close to 3.7 million of these were insured for commercial use[2]. It’s estimated a third of all road traffic accidents involve someone who is at work at the time[3]. These stats highlight that road safety is paramount for businesses with motor fleets, no matter how many vehicles they may have.
Whether driving a company car or a HGV, drivers need to look out for each other, road users and pedestrians. Technology is helping many motor fleet drivers to do this. By combining in-vehicle CCTV and telematics we can help make British roads safer.
Working together, RSA, one of the largest UK insurers, and VUE, the UK’s leading vehicle CCTV and telematics company, are tackling two road safety issues with specialised technology.
The first is increasing visibility for drivers, especially those operating larger vehicles, and the second is protecting drivers from fraudulent crash for cash scams.
Positioning cameras around a commercial vehicle which feed into a cab monitor, allows drivers to have full 360 degree visibility, crucial for larger vehicles. This technology not only makes the roads safer for cyclists and pedestrians, it also gives drivers a clear vision around their vehicle and eliminates blind spots.
Last year ‘crash for cash’ car insurance scams were identified as the main contributor to a 34 per cent rise on the number of false motoring claims. Many ‘crash for cash’ fraudsters have witnesses on hand to claim that the crash was the other driver’s fault, enabling them to make an insurance claim for the damage, as well as whiplash injuries. According to the ABI, the bill for whiplash totals over £2 billion every year – which adds about £90 to the average motor insurance premium.
Fraudsters are dangerous drivers on the roads and CCTV and telematics are a reliable way to substantiate what actually happened with visual proof and documented speed at impact. This offers protection to commercial drivers who could otherwise be blamed for non-fault accidents.
VUE and RSA have also been working together to offer brokers and commercial motor fleets bespoke driver training which not only increases fleet safety, but also helps to manage insurance costs.
We all pick up bad driving habits and that’s why on-going driver training for the motor industry is important. Last year, VUE carried out research which investigated the impact of on-board cameras on the attitudes and behaviours among LGV drivers. The research found that the presence of on-board cameras and data recorders had a positive effect on driver performance, particularly when implemented with a corresponding feedback and coaching intervention. As a result VUE developed a bespoke driver training programme for the motor fleet industry, called reVUE. Using experienced driver behavioural experts they helped transport managers analyse and interpret real footage and share feedback in a positive vein following a structured procedure. This innovative style of driver training helps fleet owners reduce unsafe attitudes and behaviours among commercial vehicle drivers.
RSA identified some fleets which would benefit from VUE technology and training and the results have been impressive. For example, Roberts Bakery has a fleet of 105 delivery vehicles which have all have had front, nearside and rear facing VUE camera systems installed. Combined with training from reVUE, Roberts Bakery has benefited from a 45% reduction in accident frequency rates and has been able to reduce its cost per claim by 68%.
A combined use of CCTV technology and driver training is helping the motor fleet industry to boost road safety in the UK, on average fleets with technology and training have experienced a 40% reduction[4] in the number of accidents.
Well done to the British businesses who have a road safety strategy in place and for those who don’t yet, this Road Safety Week is the perfect time to start.
For more information on VUE CCTV and reVUE, download our infographic or visit www.vue-cctv.co.uk or contact Glen Mullins on 0161 877 2257.
[1] Department for Transport: Vehicle Licensing Statistics 2013
[2] Association of British Insurers: UK Insurance Key Facts Sept 2013
[3] HSE ‘Driving at Work, managing work-related road safety
[4] BSAP Limited – Research into the effects of an IVDR/camera device and corresponding coaching intervention on driver attitudes and behaviours 2013