Ensuring the safety of drivers and minimising the risk of incidents is an ongoing task for fleet managers. Vigilance, safety training, and hazard prediction are essential for drivers to remain safe on the roads. However, fleet management practices must work in tandem to ensure a high degree of safety at all times. Safe operations are critical for the reputation and profitability of fleet businesses.
Technological advancements in predictive analytics are rapidly addressing this need. Smart 4G dash cams like Crystal Ball’s SmartCam are equipped with artificial intelligence and powerful predictive analytics to shift incident prevention from reactive to proactive. Predictive analytics has the power to transform fleet safety by identifying risks and preventing incidents before they happen.
In this article, we will explore how smart 4G dash cams use real-time data, historical insights, and artificial intelligence to create a safe driving environment for fleets and drivers in the UK and beyond.
The Risks of Reactive Hazard Prediction Measures
Traditionally, fleet safety techniques have relied largely on reactive measures and safety training to keep drivers and vehicles safe and prevent incidents.
While these incident prevention strategies have benefits, they also have several limitations, which are important to acknowledge.
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The Hindsight Bias
The first of these limitations is the hindsight bias. Reactive safety measures are usually implemented after an unwanted incident has already taken place. They focus on assessing past mistakes rather than preventing future incidents.
Humans have a natural tendency toward hindsight bias. In the context of fleet management, this bias can lead to blaming drivers without taking road hazards or situational factors into account.
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Limited Measure Scope and Efficacy
Reactive measures used to prevent incidents also have a limited scope. They typically address specific incidents without always tackling the root causes or wider trends.
For instance, focusing on a driver who has been involved in an accident could miss important underlying factors, such as substandard training, poor vehicle maintenance, inefficient route planning, or fatigue.
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Delays in Solution Implementation
The delay in implementing reactive measures can also lead to further vulnerabilities in fleets. Reactive strategies only address incidents once they have occurred, a flaw that can leave fleets and drivers vulnerable to repeat accidents and further injuries and incidents.
When accidents and incidents occur repeatedly, they can not only put drivers in danger but also negatively impact a fleet’s bottom line. Damage to vehicles can be costly to repair, and some accidents may even warrant replacing vehicles – all of which can add significant expenses to your operations.
These limitations and risks clearly highlight the need for a proactive approach to fleet and driver safety, which is where predictive analytics and smart 4G dash cams come into the picture.
The Benefits of Proactive Incident Prevention
Proactive incident prevention involves identifying potential hazards and addressing them before incidents occur.
Technologies like smart 4G dash cams come complete with camera system equipment and predictive analytics, which allow fleet managers to proactively keep their fleets and drivers safe on the roads.
Identifying and Mitigating Risks
Managers who use predictive risk identification tools to analyse the behaviours of their drivers, traffic trends, and past incident data can identify and mitigate potential risks before they cause accidents.
For instance, predictive dash cam systems may identify certain drivers’ struggles with fatigue on long delivery routes and notify both the driver and their manager. This data can then be used to create shorter, less taxing routes for drivers, allowing them to make safer deliveries without experiencing exhaustion and putting themselves and their vehicles at risk.
Implementing Strategic Interventions to Prevent Accidents
Fleet managers who have access to dash cam hazard prediction insights can implement strategic interventions to avoid specific issues and risks. These interventions can include adjusted routes that avoid high-risk road areas, extra training for drivers, or scheduled breaks to help prevent driver fatigue.
Some dash cams like SmartCam even offer real-time feedback to drivers, helping to identify high-risk behaviours instantly and take action to avoid accidents. SmartCam’s Driver Behaviour System improves driver behaviour by monitoring and scoring it based on five essential KPIs:
- Speeding
- Acceleration
- Breaking
- Cornering
- Idling
The dash cam system individually calculates scores for each driver and offers reports and league tables for effortless analysis.
Continuous Monitoring
The data obtained by smart dash cams allows managers to continuously monitor and enhance their fleet’s safety strategies through video footage and data.
Managers who analyse key trends and dash cam video footage over time can easily identify possible areas of improvement and adjust their safety protocols to manage a wide range of risks more proactively. This data also enables them to identify trends in risks, allowing them to mitigate newly emerging risks that may become more hazardous to drivers and vehicles in the future.
Ensuring Vehicle Safety Through Predictive Analytics
Even with the best drivers powering your fleet, if your vehicles are damaged or dysfunctional, your drivers may encounter more risks and hazards than necessary. Falling behind on routine vehicle maintenance can also create significant risk – but predictive analytics can help fleet managers keep their vehicle maintenance plans on track.
Smart 4G dash cams like SmartCam enable fleet managers to streamline their vehicle maintenance operations, helping them to repair and maintain damage to vehicles before it leads to breakdowns and unwanted incidents.
SmartCam offers digital vehicle checklists that drivers can use to report maintenance and vehicle issues directly through our convenient mobile Driver App. Our dash cam checklists can be customised to suit the specific needs of your fleet, helping to ensure a high degree of fleet safety and compliance.
Predictive analytics can also provide real-time updates with cloud-based defect reports and photos. This data can then be used to identify potential risks and notify fleet managers before they become problematic.
Enhancing Fuel Efficiency and Cost Efficiency
Predictive analytics may even offer benefits for enhancing the cost efficiency of fleets and help to keep expenses low. Fuel expenses are one of the largest costs of operating a fleet, and using a smart 4G dash cam is one effective way of reducing these costs.
When drivers use SmartCam, they and their managers will be notified of any high-risk driving behaviours and the possible implications of these habits. Drivers who use their performance and driving scores to their advantage can successfully improve their driving habits, leading to safer driving and driving at a speed that helps to optimise fuel consumption and keep their fuel costs low.
Optimising fuel efficiency may also help prevent incidents, particularly hijackings, vehicle thefts, and other targeted crimes that often take place at petrol stations and truck stops. Drivers who require fewer stops to reach their destination may enjoy safer routes and more incident-free deliveries as a result. Should any crimes take place, dash cams provide reliable video evidence of incidents for insurance claims and legal action.
Make Incident Prevention A Priority
Predictive analytics and AI data analysis in smart 4G dash cams like Crystal Ball’s SmartCam can transform the way fleet managers deal with incident prevention, helping them adopt more proactive measures and strategic approaches.
The data provided by dash cam predictive analytics can assist with anticipating and mitigating risks on the road, identifying emerging trends in risks and hazards, and improving drivers’ behaviour on the roads to protect both human and vehicular assets alike.
Prevent incidents and keep your drivers and vehicles safe with Crystal Ball’s SmartCam. Contact us to take proactive measures today.