When you operate and manage a large fleet, it can be a massive undertaking to keep tabs on where your vehicles are at any given moment and ensure driver safety. With today’s GPS tracking devices, you’ll get real-time updates on where your drivers are to improve productivity and also ensure you meet your OH&S (Occupational Health and Safety) requirements.
GPS systems help to improve overall productivity and provide the following benefits:
Improve Driver Safety, Accountability and Performance
It’s human nature to behave better when you know you’re being tracked and watched. That’s one of the added benefits of using an integrated GPS system — drivers feel a duty to improve their driving performance when they know they’re held accountable for their actions.
Organisations that comply with Occupational Health & Safety requirements will often have a safe driving policy. GPS tracking can help these organisations to monitor and rate driver behaviour allowing them to enforce their vehicle use policy, reward safe driving and quickly respond to violations.
Reduce speeding and aggressive driving
Speeding is still one of the leading causes of traffic accidents in Australia. Other aggressive behaviours such as last-minute braking and tailgating also contribute to road traffic accidents and fatalities. GPS vehicle tracking technology allows you to monitor and manage aggressive driving tendencies and check out how your drivers stack up (best to worst). With advanced technology, it’s easier for owners and managers to see at a glance how drivers rank according to their driving behaviours. This helps you reward good drivers and help correct drivers that need improvement.
Analyze driving patterns and replay routes
Are you curious about which roads and highways cause the most headaches? GPS software provides you with detailed “play-by-play” information about how drivers performed and where aggressive behaviours tend to occur. You can then plan alternative routes, or provide helpful tips to drivers.
Send real-time alerts and messages to drivers. If you notice that a certain driver is driving aggressively, you can send a real-time message or warning.
Keep Your Drivers Safe
All owners have an obligation under OH&S to take reasonable measures to protect drivers from harm. Even with cellphones and other digital devices, tragic accidents can still occur. In 2015, two truck drivers died in two separate incidents after their trucks got stuck along a road in rural areas of Australia. The harsh, sunny conditions contributed to their death as they left their vehicles in search of help.
The tragic incidents could have been prevented had the drivers stayed in their trucks and used items such as an emergency beacon, or a GPS tracking device. It’s of utmost importance to keep your drivers safe. All fleet managers should advise drivers to take plenty of water on road trips, and adhere to best practices such as staying in your vehicle until help arrives, and communicating their estimated arrival times for every trip.