FleetWatch Online - 51-The All-Seeing Eye

Technological advancements have made it possible for fleet managers to monitor in real-time not only what is happening with the truck, its engine and its movements, but also how its driver is performing. The latest tool to hit our shores is an in-cab video camera that records what the driver is doing and what happens on the road in front and at the rear of the truck. As far as accident prevention is concerned, this 'tool' is being successfully used around the world as part of a broader Driver Risk Management solution.

The video camera and risk management solution are marketed in South Africa by Drive Report, the Cape Town-based agents for US-based DriveCam Inc. The offering combines "sight and sound (in-vehicle video recording)", "expert analysis" and "driver coaching", explains its press release, and has "reduced vehicle damages, workers' compensation and personal injury costs by 30 to 90% in more than 60 000 commercial and government vehicles around the world."

The camera itself does not record every moment of the truck's movements, but lies in 'sleep' mode until it is triggered into record-mode the instant there is any sudden or harsh movement made by the truck. The camera's internal hard-drive memory records events 10 seconds before and after the incident.

From an accident analysis perspective, a tool like this is invaluable, giving fleet managers the power to mitigate road risks by ensuring their drivers are properly trained to drive defensively.

Technology needs management
According to Del Lisk, Vice President of Safety Services, DriveCam Inc, there are five keys to a successful risk management programme. "Although every fleet is different, there are common steps many of the most successful organisations have taken to make best use of the Driver Risk Management programme," says Lisk. "These fleets have positioned the programme as a management tool designed to coach drivers and foster driver behaviour improvement as opposed to a tool used to penalise drivers."

The programme is based on the five-letter acronym, COACH, explains Lisk. "C stands for CEO-level support of the programme, O for open communication with employees, A for constant and consistent application of the process, C for clear sets of positive and negative consequences, and H for having someone monitoring and measuring programme managers.

"Every organisation that has been successful in leveraging the DriveCam solution has had strong support from the very top," Lisk says. "Open communication with employees is crucial. Success requires cooperation throughout the organisation. Top-notch organisations involve labour and labour representatives in the DriveCam decision-making process. And, they educate drivers about the programme before the first video recorder is placed in the vehicle."

Using a in-cab video camera such as the one marketed in SA by Drive Report can effectively enable a safety programme to be implemented in the transport operation. The graphic above shows the process-flow utilized by the DriveCam risk management solution.

Sticks and carrots
For any such safety initiative to be successful, respective roles need to be clearly understood and staffing needs to be sufficient to handle the programme tasks, continues Lisk. "The solution must not be treated as a 'flavour of the month' initiative, but as an integral component of the organisation's risk management initiatives."

While many drivers may resent the idea of being watched while they drive, Lisk points out that the focus of the solution is to improve driver efficiency and safety. "A meeting with a driver to review a video that demonstrates risky driving behaviour usually is enough to send a message that corrections must be made. Only a very small percentage of drivers may require more formal action to trigger a change in how they drive. The point is to show drivers you are committed to their safety and the safety of the fleet and will be reviewing events to reduce risky driving behaviours."

Acknowledging and rewarding drivers who rarely trigger the video recorder is equally important, concludes Lisk.