In the News
Study: FMCSA- Funded Study Reveals Significant Drop in Risky Driving Events in Vehicles Using DriveCam
A recent FMCSA-funded study, conducted by Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, has found that the number of risky driving events fell by 52.2% in the first fleet and 37% in the second fleet for those vehicles running the DriveCam Driver Risk Management Program.
The study involved 100 trucks – both long haul and short haul – over a 17-week period. During the 4-week baseline phase, the event recorder recorded safety-related events. However, the feedback light on the event recorder was disabled and safety managers did not have access to the recorded critical incidents to provide feedback to drivers. During the 13-week intervention phase, the feedback light on the event recorder was activated and safety managers had access to the recorded safety-related events (following the coaching protocol with drivers).
“Both carriers (long-haul and short-haul) significantly reduced the mean frequency of recorded events/miles traveled from baseline to intervention,” commented Jeff Hickman, Lead Researcher, Virginia Tech Transportation Institute. “The results prove that the combination of onboard safety monitoring and behavioral coaching were responsible for the significant reduction in the mean frequency of events/miles traveled at both carriers.”
Study: Texting While Driving Even More Dangerous
Texting while driving increases the risk of a crash much more than previous studies have concluded with motorists taking their eyes off the road longer than they do when talking or listening on their cell phones, accorind to the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI).
VTTI used cameras to continuously observe light vehicle drivers and truckers for more than 6 million miles. It found that when drivers of heavy trucks texted, their collision risk was 23 times greater than when not texting. Dialing a cell phone and using or reaching for an electronic device increased risk of collision about 6 times in cars and trucks.
Recent research using driving simulators suggested that talking and listening were as dangerous as texting, but the "naturalistic driving studies clearly indicate that this is not the case," a news release from the institute said. The risks of texting generally applied to all drivers, not just truckers, the researchers said. Complete results were expected to be released Tuesday.
Right before a crash or near collision, drivers spent nearly five seconds looking at their devices, which was enough time at 55 mph to cover more than the length of a football field.
"Talking/listening to a cell phone allowed drivers to maintain eyes on the road and were not associated with an increased safety risk to nearly the same degree," the institute said. "These results show conclusively that a real key to significantly improving safety is keeping your eyes on the road."
The institute recommended that texting should be banned for all drivers and all cell phone use should be prohibited for newly licensed teen drivers. Fourteen states do ban texting while driving.
The study also concluded that headset cell phone use is not substantially safer than hand-held because the primary risks associated with both are answering, dialing, and other tasks that take drivers' eyes off the road.
Voice activated systems are less risky if they are designed well enough so drivers do not have to take their eyes off the road often or for long periods.
Watch the video.
Effective Fleet Management
Public Risk Magazine (Nov/Dec 2008)
View the PDF
Old Habits ... Can Get You in Trouble
CVSA Guardian Magazine (Q4 2008)
View the PDF
Vehicles Don't Cause Crashes. People Do.
Concrete InFocus Magazine (Sept/Oct 2008)
View the PDF
Driver Risk Management Helps Veolia Transportation Improve Fleet Safety, Reduce Insurance Costs
Passenger Transport Magazine (February 2007)
View the PDF
U.S. Concrete Turns Cameras on Trucks, Drivers with Event Recording System
Concrete Products Magazine (May 2007)
View the PDF
Come Ride With Me
Dallas Morning News (February 2006)
View the PDF
Mom Called and Said, “Slow Down”
Wall Street Journal (March 2008)
View the PDF
Young Drivers on the Radar
Wall Street Journal (March 2008)
View the PDF
Is a Candid Camera the Key to Safer Teenage Drivers?
Wall Street Journal (February 2007)
View the PDF
Safety and Your Bottom Line
Electric Light & Power (July/August 2007)
View the PDF
Interview: DriveCam Offers Driver Monitoring, Safety System via Camera
Solid Waste Report (April 2008)
View the PDF
Tech Offers Companies Ability to Document Driving Events
Solid Waste Report (April 2008)
View the PDF
Maximizing the Safety of Your Fleet
Utility Products (June 2008)
View the PDF
TV Spots
CNN Story : DriveCam Catches Crash on Tape
by Greg Hunter
View the Video
CNN Story: Crime in Taxis Reduced by 70%
by Greg Hunter
CNN Paula Zahn Now – 2/28/2006
View the video
ABC Story: DriveCam Figures Out What Went Wrong
A technology that takes pictures of car accidents shows common driver errors.
4/3/2008
View the video
ABC Story: DriveCam Video Systems
A new way to look at accidents in this country
11/4/2004
View the video