Every time we get behind the wheel, we make choices. We as drivers all strive to make good driving choices, but we may be forced into a single risky choice that can have major consequences. NSW, WA, Tasmania and the NT experienced a rise in fatal road accidents in the 12 months from April 2021 to 2022. The biggest culprits? Speeding, distracted and fatigued driving.
Our safest drivers on the road aren’t what you typically think – learners with their professional instructors. Education and training can make a difference and encourage consistently safe driving, and advances in technology are helping improve outcomes, and not just when you’re young and on your first few journeys on the road.
Technologies like AI dashcams can act as your personal coach. When dangerous driving habits are detected, an alert is instantly audible for the driver, allowing them to alter their behaviours instantly to see long-term improvements. When building a culture of workplace driver safety it’s an invaluable tool.
Here’s how AI-powered smart dashcams can become an in-cab coach to improve driver safety at your workplace.
Proactive risk mitigation is key
The biggest challenge in changing people’s driving behaviour is a lack of education. So, for workplaces, building a culture of safety through driver education and training should be a top priority.
Instead of waiting for something bad to occur and then dealing with the aftermath, companies should proactively mitigate the risk from the get-go. The keyword here is to be proactive. Fleet companies need to have a solid understanding of their duty of care and where the risks lie.
Coaching drivers in real-time
That’s where telematics and AI come in; with an extra eye on the road. Dashcams are a proactive, in-cab training tool that presents absolute data to the driver, letting them know what their driving behaviours are and how to improve. You notice the difference when I’m in the coaching seat, versus when the driver is alone. When I’m in the vehicle, they demonstrate almost perfect driving. The minute I leave the car, they fall back into bad habits.
Dashcams can play the critical role on coaching drivers in real-time to get them back into caution mode. The system tells drivers whether they’re over the speed limit, distracted, or following too closely and alerts them instantly. It’s like having a driver trainer next to you as you go about your journey.
A driver-focused approach
Unfortunately, you can’t have a professional coach in the car every time a driver hops in. Yet getting your drivers’ buy-in for dashcams can be challenging. There’s a good reason why, and also an easy fix. Many drivers aren’t appropriately consulted before the technology is installed, so they believe someone must be watching their journey in real-time on a map, 24/7.
In reality, the driver will hardly notice the dashcam operating. By the end of each month, there will be a report identifying areas for improvement that fleet operators can look into to inform training and education. Proper education and consultation within the workforce are essential. Once drivers realise the benefits, they’ll be more likely to jump onboard.
Driving awareness is key
The first step to becoming a safer driver is to understand what dangerous driving behaviours are, identify if you’re displaying these habits, and try to fix them. We need to reflect upon our own driving and control what we can control. An in-cab coach like an AI dashcam facilitates that process, pinpointing any issues and guiding drivers toward safer driving habits.
- Article by Chris L’Ecluse, Teletrac Navman