How to use technology to manage driver fatigue.
Many companies rely on their fleets for product deliveries, transporting goods between warehouses and getting to remote job sites. However, fleet drivers may often be made to endure long trips and inconsistent driving schedules to meet delivery standards. This means that many drivers could find themselves driving while dangerously fatigued.
The National Safety Council (NSC) found that driving after more than 20 hours without sleep is the same as driving with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08% — the U.S. legal limit. Based on this fact alone, it’s more important than ever for fleet managers to monitor and combat dangerous driving habits like driving while fatigued.
Driver fatigue is often seen as an underestimated danger of being on the road. Drivers often face long trips and inconsistent driving schedules, leading to situations where they potentially find themselves driving while tired and drowsy.
Technology can play a key role in reducing the number of fatigue-related collisions among fleet drivers.
For example, vehicle features and ADAS solutions, including drowsiness and lane departure alerts are prime examples of technology that can detect common drowsy driving habits and notify drivers to stay in their lane or take a rest.
Fleet and business safety managers can increase safety by encouraging their drivers to spot key driver fatigue symptoms and stay off the roads when they feel tired or drowsy. As well, the following symptoms may also be noticeable in fatigued drivers:
- Falling asleep at the wheel
- Slow reaction times to changing road conditions, obstructions, traffic or even pedestrians
- Poor decision making
- Lane drifting
- Tunnel vision
- Microsleeps (brief moments of sleep lasting anywhere up to 30 seconds)
- Lack of memory about recently driven miles
It is the responsibility of both fleet organizations and their drivers to maintain the safety of their drivers and encourage best practices behind the wheel. This is why GPS to GO offers fleet dashboard camera integrations that offer added benefits for fleet management, including:
- Recording and saving collision footage and filing proper evidence if any collisions result in a lawsuit.
- Identifying impaired or distracted driving, not only in instances of fatigue, but also eating, drinking, smoking, or being on the phone.
- A live view of drivers’ routes that can be triggered by events like speeding or harsh braking, allowing for quicker reactions by fleet managers to potentially dangerous situations.
By installing dash cams, companies are prioritizing fleet and driver safety while gaining an extra layer of visibility into their on-road operations.
If you would like to learn how GPS to GO can help you manage and mitigate fatigued driving, speak with GPS to GO today!