Fleet Driver Risk Management

Fleet Benefits of Using  “Digital Eye SE4”

The "DE-SE4" is an In Vehicle Monitoring System (IVMS), which is a Hybrid of 2 very different devices designed to address and solve very different problems :

Video Event Data Recorder & Driver Training Device.
 
This new innovative integration of technologies adapted to benefit those companies, districts and municipalities’ operating large fleets of vehicles with considerable assets at risk. Combined with the Eco-Driver features this combination can offer immediate, substantial reduction in driver risk along with enhanced fuel conservation when drivers abide Eco Driving behaviors assisted by the active/passive DTD with proper management oversight. 

Eco- Drivers have proven increases of 25% higher MPG
from the same unmodified vehicles!

Note, that no matter how well conceived, developed and manufactured a safety related product is, it is simply a tool to be used by concerned, committed, and competent management dedicated to improving fleet driver safety and reducing fleet driver risk. Investment in the tools to reduce driver risk is just the beginning; it is reliant on management oversight and commitment to determine the level of fleet driver safety and fleet driver risk the company is exposed to.

What can the "DE-SE4” do for your fleet and your company?

Active Fleet Driver Safety Training Program Benefits                       

• Deter & document dangerous driving behaviors while there is time to change them
• Highlight drivers who need additional safety training to overcome any behavior
• Management oversight to insure dangerous driving behaviors do not return
• Establish a safety standard that promotes employee safety on the roads
• Safer drivers reduce accident claims saving company funds & wasted time 
• Safer drivers save lives, reduce company expenses & reduce insurance costs fleet wide
• Reduction in vehicle insurance up to 25% from some providers
• Active Eco Driver Conservation Training Benefits
• Offer a proven method to reduce fuel costs up to 25% in wasted fuel, 
• Encourages drivers to be eco-friendly to promote conservation,
• Can significantly reduce air pollution & vehicle fleet carbon footprint,
• May qualify companies for eco related tax credits & other business consideration,
• Can extend a vehicle M.P.G. for significant long term savings
• Offer businesses a responsible way to show they care about pollution reduction.

Driver Risk Issues

Unmanaged Driver Risk can cause massive realized losses with unnecessary liability in a otherwise healthy and thriving company or district transportation department. Far too often we see news reports of undisciplined, unprofessional drivers causing accidents, while sending text messages on their cell phones or Blackberries, when they should be concentrating on driving their vehicles. This form of Driver Risk is a direct result of dangerous driver behavior and poor choices both of which in many cases are 100% preventable if the driver learns to recognizes the dangers and agrees not to do these distracting things while driving company vehicles.

Highlight Dangerous Driving Behaviors Before An Accident

• Documents what happens in front of vehicle, can document head on collisions, or following too closely
• Documents Speeding, GPS On Screen Mapping shows you what road and speed limit signs
• Documents Running Red Lights & Stop Signs, are they really stopping or just rolling on through
• Documents Failure to Stop At Railroad Crossings, verify if crossing arms were working in an accident
• Documents Hard Braking through use of "G" sensors that may indicate they are distracted while driving
• Documents Dangerous Turns (high speeds that can cause loss of control and rollover of vehicle)
• Documents Vehicle Impacts For Accident Claim Disputes (both front rear or side impact)
• Documents Drinking, Eating, Sending Text Messages, Cell Phone Use  (all can contribute to accidents)
• Documents Taxi Cab Customer Payment Collection (document if passengers paid or ran)
• Documents Driver Assaults, Can Aid In Prosecution (cameras offer deterrence to crime)
• Documents In-Vehicle Driver Passenger Interaction (records A&V of arguments, threats, abuse)
• Documents Accident Data for replay in court (audio, video GPS & G sensor data can be used)
• Documents Accidents If Driver Does Not (some accidents may seem minor until charges for hit & run)

Oversight To Insure Company Policy & Risk Prevention

• Does the driver text on a phone when they are driving?
• Does the driver surf the net on a laptop PC while driving?
• Does the driver watch video movies or TV while Driving?
• Does the driver pickup hitchhikers?
• Does the driver use the company vehicle for non-company work?
• Does the driver act in a way that your company may be sued?
• Does the driver have unauthorized passengers in the vehicle?
• Did the driver stay on route or wander all over the place?
• Did the driver make personal trips in the vehicle?
• Was the vehicle used on weekends for unauthorized trips?
• Where the vehicle is parked during the day and nights?

Passenger Risk Issues

Unmanaged Passenger Risk can also cause massive realized losses with unnecessary liability to passenger transportation companies or pupil transportation department. It is vital to document problems, identify their cause, review any intervention and the end results in a worse case scenario, or successful passenger situation resolution to provide invaluable information and evidence that can be reviewed and possibly used to improve the awareness or ability of the driver of transport agency in resolving similar problems in the future. Unsafe Passenger Behaviors Documented:

    * Fights Between Passengers

    * Gang Related Activities

    * Civil or Criminal Violations of Law

    * Drug Use, Sale or Distribution

    * Vehicle Vandalism, Cutting Seats, Graffiti

    * Throwing Items Out Windows

    * Sexual Acts With or Without Consent

    * Assaults or Abuse Towards The Driver

    * Alcohol Abuse or Smoking on The Vehicle

    * Other Dangerous Activities While in The Vehicle

    * Standing or Walking in Vehicle While in Motion

Diligent and committed oversight by management are essential to enable this system reach it's full potential in enhancing driver safety and eco-drive conservation of fuel up to 25%. Should management not exhibit following through on their oversight of this system, then it is unrealistic to expect the companies drivers to follow suite as should management not care about safety and reducing wasted fuel and unnecessary air pollution, then why should they. 

Too often large fleets suffer great losses in damaged product, additional labor, warranty claims, accidents, excessive fuel costs or efficiency due to poorly trained, disinterested or dangerous drivers. Our goal is to provide an active and verifiable mechanism that can actively encourage borderline drivers to be much safer, less wasteful of the fuel they could be saving, more conscious of their driving behaviors and a long term asset to their company, district or municipality. It is our hope that with the support and oversight of management, most drivers who exhibit dangerous or apathetic driving behaviors, can be polished by sufficient education and IVMS reminders & documentation to the best interest of safe driving with fuel conservation in mind.

There will be those few, who are incapable or unwilling to refrain from their potentially dangerous driving behaviors, learn how to become a safer or more efficient driver and will continue to become a potential safety hazard to others who share the roads with them. They are usually easily identified with any competent training program and dealt with from a management level through reassessment of job related skills, reassignment of job tasks or elimination.

The clear and present threat to both safe driving and eco-drive conservation is the driver who passes the routine screening process, drives in a responsible, safe manor to pass the tests, then once freedom is at hand, he is in complete control over his actions with no meddling instructor sitting by their side, no management looking over their shoulder, now they proceed to operate their company vehicles any way they choose and often in direct violation of; company eco-drive policy, company safety standards and often in violation of common sense or state law.

In these cases the In Vehicle Monitoring System (IVMS) will document their problems, their violations in law or company guidelines, will provide reminders that they are operating in a potentially unsafe manor and against the specific guidelines set by their fleet managers or administration. In these hopefully rare cases the continuous recording, 2, 3 or 4 cameras, the GPS mapping, the 3-axis "G" sensors in them will provide the same recorded evidence in order to remove them from their ability to be a detriment to the fleet and eliminate the possibility that they will someday cause serious liability damages to property, personal injury or vehicular death to themselves or others. 

Mobile Driver Risk Video Devices

In Vehicle Monitoring Systems (IVMS) is a general term used to describe very different devices that have a wide range of applications in Professional Journey Management and Driver Risk Management markets so it is helpful to learn some basic differences:

Accident Data Recorders (ADR) 

Were you inclined to automatically record what happens in a vehicle in the 10-30 seconds time period before and after an accident, then a Accident Data Recorders (ADR) might be a wise choice for an In Vehicle Monitoring Systems (IVMS). As this system usually has a single camera with a forward facing view it nothing in the way of Professional Journey Management and little to reduce dangerous patterns of driver behaviors that may have caused the accident in the first place.

Video Event Data Recorder (VEDR)

For Professional Journey Management purposes were you inclined to manually document, by press of a button, odd events or those of interest that they driver believe may be useful later on then the Video Event Data Recorder (VEDR) might be a wise choice for an In Vehicle Monitoring Systems (IVMS). This system is more tailored to taxi or shuttle applications where people are being transported and there is a need to document possible unwanted interaction or threats harassment ands the like. These systems usually have 1-2 cameras and most of the action is directed inside the vehicle.

Driver Training Device (DTD)

The Active Driver Training Device (DTD) is a Driver Risk Management product with active driver safety aspects and features designed to improve Professional Journey Management, while documenting automatic and manual events and providing the same active alerts to drivers when they act in potentially dangerous driving manor. The dual vehicle video cameras record what the driver sees out the windshield and what the driver does in the vehicle when the driver is supposed to be focused on driving.  The Driver Training Device (DTD) is a extension of management that can remind the driver of the vehicle when they exceed limits on safe driving behaviors that are set by their companies management.

Some transportation related markets would be more infested with; untrained, uninterested, unaware and potentially dangerous drivers than others. In these markets the “DE-SE4” will quickly document the problem drivers, so that management can focus their attention on their worst drivers in order to expedite a solution to the ones most likely to cost the company or district in some negative way.

 Once they are identified they can be offered additional driver training, or in many cases the built in active functions of the DTD may be sufficient to round off their rough edges so they can learn what they should be doing to avoid the DTD reminding them they are exceeding the safe limits of driving operation set forth by their fleet managers.

Insurance Incentive to Reduce Liability Risk

There are insurance companies who have just started a test program offering incentives to their insured fleet owners amounting to 25% off of that vehicles current annual premium when the VEDR like this one, are purchased and used by those fleets. The caveat for this large premium discount for that year of the purchase is that the insurance provider is provided video files for each accident claim made by that company.

Fleet owners get a device that can help them save up to 25% in wasted fuel, 

• Document dangerous driving behavior that often leads to accidents,
• Offer drivers limited active driver alerts when they drive in an dangerous manor, 
• Get a reduction of up to 25% from their insurance provider to cover that first year purchase 

Insurance providers get access to documented video evidence: to use in court in defending their insured fleets in cases of:

• Insurance fraud by drivers, who may be staging accidents to win settlement claims, 
• Document number of occupants involved in accident in other vehicle
  (This number has been known to increase when claims go to court)
• Admission of guilt by non insured parties that may have caused or contributed to accident(Verbal admissions to your insured drivers are common in the immediate aftermath of an accident)
• Identify who was actually in the vehicle when it was involved in an accident.(Verify that the persons appearing in court are the same persons named in the police report)
• Verify the impact “G” force of the accident in minor bumps that are later greatly exaggerated.

Why spend a fortune on a mobile video camera system that will only show you part of what
happened when your vehicles are involved in an accident?

When you can invest in an interactive Driver Safety In Vehicle Monitoring System (IVMS)
 that with proper review of documented dangerous driving problems, management oversight & driver alerts could help prevent an accident?

The DE-SE4 will help train your drivers to drive safely and document for later review by management what potentially dangerous driving behaviors they might be unaware of that could end up costing them their jobs, or their lives? 

While they are learning to drive in a safer manor, they will also be saving your company up to 25% in wasted fuel, while reducing considerably the air pollution caused by wasting fuel.