The Best Tools to Keep Your Fleet Safe on the Road

The Best Tools to Keep Your Fleet Safe on the Road

Due to the high rates of traffic-related deaths and injuries, road safety is a priority for all companies with a fleet of vehicles, regardless of the field or industry they operate in. A previous post highlights essential safety measures to teach fleet drivers, allowing them to perform their jobs efficiently and stay out of harm’s way. These include emphasizing the need to stay focused while driving, reminding drivers to take breaks and prevent fatigue, and training them on defensive driving to anticipate dangerous road conditions.

Additionally, fleet companies can equip their drivers with tools that enhance driving conditions and overall road safety. By utilizing the tools outlined below, fleet drivers can reduce the risk of accidents, injuries, and delivery delays — ultimately boosting productivity and a return on investment.

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Polarized sunglasses for improved visibility

One of the most common driving hazards is harsh sunlight, as the glare can cause distractions and minimize the driver’s field of view. Moreover, continued exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet rays can gradually impair visual acuity and clarity, which are otherwise crucial to clearly seeing details like road signs and traffic lights. Fortunately, drivers can wear polarized sunglasses to shield their eyes from the glare of smooth surfaces like paved roads and nearby bodies of water. Eyebuydirect shows how many brands offer driver-friendly frame styles, such as the aviator-inspired Good Vibrations, to block horizontally polarized light while still ensuring wearers can read dashboard displays and road alerts.

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Emergency kit for safety and preparedness

In light of unfavorable and unpredictable driving conditions like slick roads, potholes, and strong winds, fleet drivers must also be prepared for car emergencies and the possibility of being stranded. As such, it’s recommended that they bring an emergency supply kit with vehicle essentials like jumper cables, a reflective triangle, an ice scraper, and a blanket. The safety kit must also include first-aid supplies to treat minor injuries like cuts, scratches, grazes, wounds, and punctures. Optimal safety and preparedness can be achieved when these kits are complemented with routine maintenance checks on the vehicle’s components, such as the brakes, battery and ignition system, lights, and exhaust system.

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AI-powered cameras for reduced risk of accidents

In addition to everyday tools like sunglasses and emergency kits, fleet owners can also rely on digital transformation to monitor driving behavior and ensure drivers’ compliance with safety measures. For example, the Motive dashcam employs artificial intelligence to accurately detect and correct signs of distracted driving. The AI-powered dashcam has also demonstrated its effectiveness in giving drivers valuable time to react to alerts and avoid potential accidents, mainly by successfully issuing in-cab and dashboard alerts for unsafe driving 86% of the time. When integrated into comprehensive fleet management solutions, video footage from AI cameras can also be used for remote monitoring of improper driving behaviors, such as cellphone usage, smoking, and failure to wear a seatbelt.

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GPS solutions for overall fleet management

Lastly, fleet owners can invest in Skypatrol’s fleet management solutions to locate and manage all vehicles 24/7 while also customizing and analyzing real-time performance metrics, such as fuel consumption and mileage/hours. Skypatrol’s GPS tracking can also be utilized to enforce company speed limits and receive alerts for those who are driving too fast or going off the optimized route.

Overall, performance reports and visibility of driving behaviors and patterns can assist fleet managers in making informed decisions that improve safety and performance.