Onboard safety: avoiding distractions

Onboard safety: avoiding distractions

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration reports show that "driver distraction is a primary contributing factor in 25% to 30% of crashes." The FMSCA report FMCSA-RRR-09-042 further indicates that "most transportation researchers believe the actual percentage of distraction-related crashes may be higher than 25% to 30%."

According to a U.S. Department of Transportation-funded study by the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation, the average cost of medium and heavy truck crashes is more than $90,000. With new regulations increasingly focused on commercial vehicle safety and driver distraction, trucking companies are seeking new tools to improve safety compliance and avoid excessive crash costs.

Virtually all fleets have described to their drivers in great detail the importance of focusing on the road, on the traffic in front of them and the paramount importance of safety of the load, the equipment and the driver himself. And to try hard not to let a cell phone or a computer tablet

—or a favorite song by Kenny Chesney or that red convertible that cut your truck off in heavy traffic—to distract and divert focus from the roads. Distraction-free driving is the goal, and every one of the software systems suppliers contacted for this story expressed consistent and sincere concern to help motor carriers increase their safety and minimize distracted driving.

In-cab cell phone policies
Christian Schenk, vice president of product marketing, Xata, observed, “fleets with the highest safety performance records also have stringent policies on in-cab cell phone use.” He referred to the recent Strength in Numbers Fleet Benchmarking Study sponsored by the Network of Employers for Traffic Safety.

“That’s why it’s so important for fleets to choose a flexible fleet management solution,” said Schenk, “and as they evaluate their options, they should keep these tips in mind:

Choose a solution that runs automatically: Solutions that automatically record HOS, speed, MPG, idle time and hard braking require no driver intervention and will be compliant even if the proposed bans become law. And these solutions require only that drivers log on and off, something they do before starting and after stopping, not while driving. 

Add additional protection: If you’re concerned about your drivers taking their eyes off the road, consider purchasing distracted-driving-prevention technology, which prevents drivers from texting or calling while their vehicle is in motion.

Also Enact a policy: Whether you’re already using fleet management software, are considering it or haven’t yet given it serious thought—develop a mobile device policy that defines acceptable and unacceptable use, driver consequences for violating the policy and how the policy will be enforced.

Xata recently teamed with ZoomSafer to address distracted driving—integrating and reselling ZoomSafer’s software, FleetSafer Mobile and FleetSafer Vision, both of which can be customized to a fleet’s specific mobile phone policies. The mobile product enforces a fleet’s safe-driving policies and runs alongside Xata Turnpike on mobile and smart phones. Xata Turnpike currently runs on consumer-grade and ruggedized mobile phones without driver interaction when the vehicle is in motion. With the Mobile product, no other native or third-party applications, such as texting, can be used on the device when the vehicle is in motion.

“Distracted driving doesn’t need to be a growing problem,” said Xata’s Schenk. “By giving fleet managers the option of monitoring driver behavior and prohibiting drivers from making calls, texting or e-mailing while driving, Xata and ZoomSafer are leading the way in making our nation’s roads safer,” he added, noting the importance of even saving just one life in boosting fleet safety.

Curbing interaction
“In-cab communications systems can have a significant impact on the daily activities of a driver,” said Jim Angel, safety security and compliance product manager, PeopleNet. “Systems that require driver interaction while the vehicle is in motion add another layer of complexity to the driver’s already difficult task at hand—driving. There are still many fleets that are utilizing cell phones for their fleet communication needs, and some that are even running apps on those phones for tracking their HOS.

According to Angel, PeopleNet encourages its fleet customers to utilize the Safe Mode option that is available across all of its platforms. The Safe Mode feature enables fleets to limit driver interaction with the onboard computer while the vehicle is in motion. The driver has limited ability to interact with the device.

For example, fleet drivers can see their available drive time, average MPG and if they have any waiting messages. If a driver is using In-cab Navigation, he could access that application, or listen to “text-to-speech” versions of the messages in their inbox, but his ability to access other applications is limited.

Text-to-speech options
Another supplier, Rand McNally, demonstrated its sensitivity to unnecessary driver distraction by developing both software and hardware. For instance, in its IntelliRoute TND line of GPS products for the professional driver, the company made these modifications: one-tap access to the most utilized functions; speakers that are loud enough for the in-cab experience; text-to-speech spoken directions; large buttons with double-tap suppression on the user interface; visual representation of lane guidance on the road ahead; warnings of upcoming potential hazards and distractions—steep grades, tolls etc; and backlit adjustments for night driving.

Finally, text-to-speech is used for all warnings and advisories, such as Rand McNally’s proprietary road construction warnings, as well as upcoming speed limit changes, state borders, sharp curves, etc., so that drivers do not have to avert their eyes from the road ahead while still having the safety benefits of a trucking-focused navigation device.

Rand McNally reports that fleet safety directors, armed with truck-specific tools for directions and routing, are eliminating the stress of navigation for drivers. Drivers are assured that the directions given are appropriate for trucks and will not route them into areas they should not be or under bridges that are too low.

Charlie Cahill, managing director of Blue Tree Systems, offered that for in-cab devices, big is not always best and the general concern is that these devices can distract the driver’s attention or obscure his field of vision. In Europe, there is legislation that will restrict the size and placement of these devices in the very near future.

“We’ve chosen a screen size for our in-cab display that will fall within the suggested limits—this is 4.3 in. Plus we’ve incorporated functionality such as screen lockout while the vehicle is moving (except in a team driver situation), audio prompts for new messages and priority messages, ability to adjust screen brightness for driver comfort and safety, and day/night modes to reduce screen glare and possible driver distraction,” said Cahill.

Recent research from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) shows that commercial drivers reaching for objects such as a cell phone while driving are three times more likely to be involved in a crash or other safety-critical event. Even worse, drivers entering phone numbers on a handheld-phone keypad while driving increase their risk of an accident six-fold. Perhaps most alarming, though, is a study released last year by Virginia Tech’s Transportation Institute that showed that when truckers text, they are 23 times more likely to be involved in a crash or close call.

Improving driver behavior
“For over seven years, we have been designing products to help drivers avoid distractions,” said Adam Kahn, product marketing director, Qualcomm Enterprise Services. “Our concern has been on three aspects: the visual (eyes off the road), the physical (texting or phoning), and the mental aspect (overall awareness and focus).”

The company, which has always been concerned about safety, incorporates functionality designed to decrease driver distraction. It currently offers a mobile computing platform—in a variety of series—to help improve driver behavior and operational efficiency. A variety of applications packages are provided and often are unique and able to be tailored to the individual fleet. The platforms have the ability to show drivers hours of service and any change/status.

“We’re confident that we can help transportation companies manage fleet safety and regulatory compliance proactively and cost effectively,” offered Kahn. He noted the importance of in-motion user interface to reduce distraction. Two of his company’s specific objectives are to address text-to-speech capability, “so that eyes and hands remained focused on the road and we give that driver the most critical information in the right format,” and a navigational program, “with the biggest display, text-to-speech functionality and audible directional commands.”

According to Kahn, Qualcomm is continually refining its systems while being mindful of vibration and noise in the cab. “We can mitigate distractions and give the driver what’s critical,” he added, noting the importance of mounting the unit properly for easy, quick glances by the driver.

Qualcomm’s soon-to-be-released MCP50 will deliver applications and features to help fleets proactively monitor and manage compliance, while also reducing costs associated with fleet safety and operations. To improve fleet management, the solution includes:

• Hours of Service, an FMCSA-compliant electronic on-board recording system (EOBR)

• CSA Safety Performance Service to help fleets manage their performance under FMCSA’s new SMS scoring methodology

• Critical Event Reporting with dashboards to track and improve driving performance

• On-board navigation offers increased productivity, cost savings and enhanced driver satisfaction

• Analytics Manager delivers actionable information on operational performance in easy-to-use dashboards, graphs and tables to enable timelier and more informed business decisions

• Vehicle location tracking for efficient fleet operations

“Fleets that may not have previously adopted mobile information technology are now recognizing the value these systems provide in efficiently managing safety and regulatory compliance,” added Norm Ellis, vice president of sales, services and marketing for Qualcomm Enterprise Services.

A key feature of Qualcomm’s new platform is In-Motion User Interface (IMUI), which helps minimize driver distraction by restricting the visual displays that drivers can see while the vehicle is in motion. Based on the driver’s log-in status, the IMUI disables the ability to type or read messages when the vehicle is in motion. The new platform also incorporates a text-to-speech feature, which is part of all MCPs, so drivers can receive and listen to messages without pulling off the road. All applications are integrated to automatically display the application with the most time-sensitive information to the driver in the least distractive way.

What’s next for limiting distracted driving?
No wonder the U.S. Department of Transportation, as part of its campaign to end distracted driving, imposed a ban on text messaging while operating a commercial vehicle—with more regulation likely. FMCSA proposed a new regulation to prohibit interstate commercial truck drivers from reaching for, holding or dialing a phone while operating a motor vehicle.

And as mentioned, there is already a regulation that prohibits other handheld devices, which means that drivers may not respond to a text, record hours of service or change duty status while the vehicle is in motion.


From DOT’s FMCSA
Distraction can be defined as any time a driver diverts his/her attention from the driving task. This may include external distractions, such as looking out the window at a passing building, street sign or person, or internal distractions, such as talking on a cell phone, eating, reading or adjusting the radio. The Large Truck Crash Causation Study (LTCCS) reported that 8% of large truck crashes occurred when Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) drivers were externally distracted and 2% of large truck crashes occurred when the driver was internally distracted.

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