Solving issues with implementation of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems could prove to be a key element for fleets in the government’s new Road Safety Strategy, believes FleetCheck.
Peter Golding, CEO of the fleet software specialist, says there are widespread reports across its user base that company car drivers simply don’t understand how to use the technology that has started to appear in recent years.
“We’re in a worrying position with ADAS where a whole host of devices have become common on new cars because of EU regulation and general technical advances, but there has been very little education about how to use them.
“At the least worrying end of the spectrum, many drivers find audible speed limit warnings annoying but, more dangerously, others might use something like Tesla’s Autopilot as though it really will drive the car for them, which is a nonsense.”
Pleasingly, he said, the Road Safety Strategy stated the government would “collaborate with a range of stakeholders to maximise the potential safety benefits of ADAS technologies and ensure their integration into the vehicle fleet is both safe and evidence based.”
Also, it added drivers must understand how to use systems correctly and that, without clear guidance, there was a risk ADAS would be underused or misused, limiting its effectiveness.
“To a great extent, ADAS is something that has just appeared without much attention being paid to ensuring drivers know how to integrate the technology into their everyday driving and it seems the government has recognised this is an issue. We’d like to see sensible direction provided as soon as possible.”
Overall, Peter said, the Road Safety Strategy was highly positive and should be welcomed by the fleet sector, “In terms of headlines, measures such as the reduction in drink-driving limits and increases in penalties for driving offences tend to grab the headlines but, from a fleet point of view, moves such as the introduction of the Road Safety Investigation Branch could well have a bigger, long-term impact.
“It promises to take a strategic, thematic approach, focusing on patterns of collisions, injury trends, and systemic safety issues. Over time, this could help fleet managers understand accident risks in more depth and new measures introduced in response.”
Similarly, the proposed National Work-Related Road Safety Charter aimed at businesses that require people to drive as part of their job could play an important part in helping to promote best practice more widely, he added.
“We’re more than two decades on from the introduction of the HSE’s original Driving at Work document and it’s still possible to talk to sometimes really quite large fleets where its fundamentals aren’t being implemented. Anything that can support more widespread education and compliance is very much to be welcomed.”
