Category: Vehicle Tracking

Connected vehicles ‘to help enhance road safety’ – Ford has unveiled new analysis that highlights the potential insights into traffic makeup that could help to make roads safer for all in the years ahead.

Using a combination of connected vehicle technology, traffic signal data and road safety incident data, Ford has been able to build up a picture of road traffic danger zones.

Connected vehicles highlight traffic dangers

The insights are based on a two-year study, which was carried out in partnership with Traffic Watch UK, and could now help to provide clear indications for how local authorities and planners could create safer junctions in future.

Amanda Wickens, managing director at Traffic Watch UK, commented: “It is probably no coincidence that where Ford’s analysis identified harsh braking and steering, we also found evidence of traffic light offences and obscured road signs.

“Without a doubt, there is a real opportunity for intelligent connected technology and vehicle data analysis to help reduce the occurrence of road incidents in the future.”

Relatively minor improvements to the way junctions are set out, signage is positioned or how drivers respond to dangers in the road could all have a positive cumulative impact on road safety.

Bringing together new data insights from connected vehicles and combining this with other sources of transport data will be crucial to safeguarding lives in the years to come.

Jenny Smith, general manager for Tele-Gence, commented: “Connected vehicle technology helps to shed light on danger zones across the road network. Greater uptake of these systems in the future could provide a welcome boost to safety for all.”

Your business can benefit from affordable telematics with no hidden start-up fees or long-term commitments. Find out how at www.tele-gence.com

 

 

The UK’s van operators are facing a growing cost as a result of councils fining drivers for incorrectly parking or stopping in loading bay areas.

Figures published by Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles show Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) totalling £1.7 million have been issued to van drivers in the last three years.

Clear understanding is key to safe parking

A total of 13,000 fines have been issued each year since 2015, highlighting how rules surrounding loading bays remain unclear to some drivers.

That said, the company’s data also showed that 23 per cent of PCNs are successfully challenged and withdrawn, so it pays to have a clear understanding of the rules around when it is and is not appropriate for bays to be used.

Sarah Cox, head of marketing at Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, commented: “As this research reveals, PCNs are costing businesses thousands of pounds a year when, in fact, they can be avoided completely if you understand the rules correctly.”

Ms Cox added that loading bays make up an essential part of the ‘red route network’ for drivers, providing access to businesses and central locations. Companies should, therefore, keep abreast of changes in local loading bay rules in order to minimise their exposure to PCNs.

Jenny Smith, general manager for Tele-Gence, commented: “With businesses up and down the country relying on the use of parking bays for the delivery of their goods, it’s essential that drivers know the rules.”

Your business can benefit from affordable telematics with no hidden start-up fees or long-term commitments. Find out how at www.tele-gence.com

November 18th to 24th will see the return of UK Road Safety Week, with this year’s theme being ‘Step up for Safe Streets’.

Organised by Brake and sponsored by Specsavers and the Department for Transport, the week-long campaign aims to improve road safety awareness up and down the country.

Preparing for the future of UK road safety

Joshua Harris, director of campaigns for Brake, the road safety charity, said: “Road Safety Week provides a unique opportunity, every year, to focus the public, organisations’ and policymakers’ attention on the vital issue of road safety.”

In 2019, the campaign will focus on how forward-thinking design for both roads and vehicles can help to stop human error from causing death or serious injury.

It also aims to highlight the importance of leading healthier lifestyles and will promote walking and cycling, as well as ensuring the air we breathe is cleaner through improved emissions standards and limits.

Campaigners and action groups will be taking part in events throughout Road Safety Week this year, with resources for all those who would like to take part in support of the annual campaign to be available from September.

Jenny Smith, general manager for Tele-Gence, commented: “Road safety should be a top priority for every motorist, so it pays to remember the precious lives that are put at risk when drivers fail to act responsibly behind the wheel.”

Your business can benefit from affordable telematics with no hidden start-up fees or long-term commitments. Find out how at www.tele-gence.com

M1 Safety Week took place back in May and Highways England has now revealed that collisions during the week were reduced by around a third.

The announcement highlights the significant reduction in accidents that can be achieved when motorists are more aware of what is going on around them.

A helpful reminder to all drivers

Taking place from May 13th to 19th, the week-long campaign saw average collision numbers fall from 90 to just 64.

It saw police officers stopping 200 dangerous drivers travelling on the M1 and reminding them of the basics of safe motorway driving practices. This included the need to maintain attention on the road at all times, to never use handheld devices and to cut their speed.

Richard Leonard, head of road safety at Highways England, said: “We’ve been really impressed with the results of our week of action on the M1, which shows how making little changes to the way you drive can make a big difference to safety on our motorways.”

He added that drivers are encouraged to remember the basics of motorway driving at all times, as this will improve safety for everyone.

Jenny Smith, general manager for Tele-Gence, commented: “All drivers should remember the dangers of being distracted at the wheel and the M1 Safety Week serves as a poignant reminder of the benefits to road safety that greater attention to the road can bring.”

Your business can benefit from affordable telematics with no hidden start-up fees or long-term commitments. Find out how at www.tele-gence.com

The issue of driver distraction due to mobile phones has been pulled into sharp focus following the release of new statistics.

Research from Kwik Fit has highlighted how 2.7 million collisions in the last two years can be attributed to mobile phone distraction.

Millions of reasons to avoid mobile phone use

Roger Griggs, communications director at Kwik Fit, commented: “It is alarming to see that so many motorists are still risking their lives and those of others by using mobile phones behind the wheel.

“There are already so many other distractions on the road that it is vital that drivers pay attention and remain focussed at all times.”

According to Kwik Fit’s new study, one quarter (24 per cent) of motorists admit to reading text messages while driving, while a further one in five (20 per cent) admit to sending them.

The most common reasons drivers gave for using their phone when behind the wheel included taking a call on speaker (44 per cent), making a call on speaker (41 per cent) and using the GPS or satnav (40 per cent).

Overall, the research showed that 1.7 million men were involved in a collision or veered off the road after using a mobile while driving in the last two years, compared to 970,000 women.

Ellie Baker, brand manager at Fuel Card Services, comments: “The mobile phone helps to keep us all connected, but when using one results in significant distraction, there is no excuse for drivers to hold off on making or taking calls and texts when behind the wheel of a vehicle.”