Safety Programs


Press Releases
Feb 14 2007 - Satellite Navigation has a Positive Effect on Driving and Traffic Safety

Jan 08 2007 - TomTom Introduces TomTom WORK in the US

 

Statistics


  • According to the NHTSA, research indicates that backing straight trucks annually cause at least 79 fatalities (both on-road and off-road) and 148 injuries.
  • Accidents: One out of four accidents can be blamed on poor backing techniques leading to 500 pedestrian deaths and 15,000 injuries each year in and among the heavy trucking industry.
  • Nearly 5000 people died in truck involved accidents last year, according to a DOT study, about one-third of those accidents involving more than one vehicle took place in the "no-zone" - the blind areas that surround the truck.
  • Blind Spots: NHTSA research has demonstrated that straight trucks have a disproportionately high back-up fatality rate than other vehicle types. The maximum detection zone provided by a properly adjusted cross-view mirror system is only 10 ft x 10 ft! Rear-View Camera systems can provide more than three times the viewing area.
  • Deaths: In 2005, 210 children were killed by a RV, Van, SUV or car backing up (www.kidsandcars.org)

How does a Rear-View Camera system benefit your fleet?


  • Avoid costly repairs to vehicles -- Motor vehicle accident crashes cost society an estimated $4,900 per second.
  • Avoid vehicle downtime
  • Less Liability: According to Truck OEMs, Insurance Underwriters and Fleet Managers, a typical backing accident costs per incident: step-van or walk-in type truck ($1800 - $2500) Refuse ($2600+) Shuttle/Coach buses ($5000)
  • Save time: Driver does not have to exit the vehicle to see what is behind, deliveries are made on time with less driver fatigue.

How does GPS Fleet Mangement Solutions benefit your fleet?


  • Handle orders
  • Report Working Time
  • Vehicle Location
  • Speed and direction of Travel
  • Elapsed Time
  • Etc.

All of which contribute to maximum efficiency, safety, and productivity.


NHTSA funded a study of the July-December 2000


Summing two six-month periods, they estimate 7,419 annual injuries to non-motorists are attributable to backing injuries. Consequently, they examined the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OHSA) website, which documents at least 15 fatalities with the cause listed as being crushed between a backing vehicle and a loading dock. The OSHA website also includes over 50 reports of workers being killed by backing vehicles.

As further indication of a backing problem, they are aware that several major employers with extensive truck fleets have equipped their vehicles with Rear-View Camera systems to include: United Parcel Service (UPS) who installed video monitoring systems on its entire fleet of 65,000 delivery trucks and FedEx.

NHTSA has learned that some trucks equipped with rear video systems also come with an audio feed, which place a microphone near the rear of a vehicle that is connected to a speaker near the driver. Such audio feed would allow an unnoticed person in the path of a backing vehicle to yell to alert the driver as to that person’s presence. While these companies were undoubtedly concerned with backing crashes that occur on public and private roads, they understand that prevention of injuries and fatalities in loading and docking areas of worksites was also a factor in adopting such equipment.