Why Accidents Happen — GPS Tracking Prevents Part 2

Yesterday I posted about some pioneering programs, long overdue, that airlines, the FAA and other agencies are using to take huge amounts of data about non-accident airline flights an "data mine" to find close calls, inherently dangerous practices, and just plain craziness that can be corrected in advance, before the metal meets the mountain.

What about ground-based transportation?  Accidents are deadly and costly for trucks and cars and school busses as well, aren’t they?

Here’s one small effort I have noted … and hat’s off to the California AAA and the DriveSync folks for getting this effort underway:

Pilot to Promote On-Road Safety and Improved Driving Habits

Waterloo, ON – July 25, 2006 – Intelligent Mechatronic Systems Inc. (IMS), a world leader in telematics systems, is pleased to announce the selection of DriveSync™ for a driving safety pilot program by the California State Automobile Association (CSAA).  CSAA is the AAA affiliate for Northern California, Nevada and Utah.

DriveSync™ is a GPS vehicle tracking system that securely tracks vehicle location including the route, mileage and speeds of each trip. As a complete turn-key solution, IMS manages all aspects of driving data collection, storage, consolidation and reporting using fraud-prevention technology and military grade data encryption to ensure customer confidentiality. However the most beneficial feature of DriveSync™ is its consumer-centric reports; turn-by-turn trip logs, color-coded route maps and driving statistic reports provide drivers with a clear picture of driving behavior and habits … read the rest of the release here

If you are not yet using GPS tracking on your business … or personal vehicles, get it.  This very month.  It will pay for itself, even in non-commercial use.

Once you do have tracking, what will you do with the data?  My suggestion?  Mine it … it’s like gold ore, mine it for all it’s worth.

The strength of GPS tracking data isn’t always just the up to the minute reports … catching a driver who isn’t following the rules, avoiding speeding and idling fuel wastes, etc.  The hidden value if the ‘how things happen’ and ‘why they happen’ data.

Are certain trucks always late?  Even if you change drivers?  Sounds like a re-route opportunity to me.

Are trucks often speeding in certain areas?  Sounds to me like the road isn’t clearly marked and/or some education … always preferable to discipline is in order.

Does one driver always finish deliveries sooner than his peers?  Find out how he does it and have him teach the rest of the crew … catching people doing the right thing is a very effective management technique.

Does one of your busses always come back with more fuel in the tank?  Ask the driver … she obviously knows something everyone else doesn’t know.

Two thoughts you may have heard from me before.  If you don’t measure you can’t manage … and there are none so blind as those who will not see … take a closer look and profit.