Effective cost management is taking center stage as fleet owners step up their defenses in South Africa's increasingly volatile economic environment. A high number of truck accidents on South African roads have been in the press in recent months, leaving many fleet managers concerned about driver safety, particularly the reduction in preventable accident rates and associated repair, downtime and liability costs.

"Road safety is important and I urge fleet owners to seriously consider the various tools available to tackle this issue. An 18-wheeler in the wrong hands is a potential weapon of mass destruction and we don't just hold drivers accountable for their The current situation on our roads will not improve unless we are prepared to share the consequences of our actions," said Cartrack CEO John Edmeston.

In response, Cartrack launched Drive Vision, which puts a firm focus on safety through in-vehicle audio and video equipment combined with Cartrack's comprehensive telematics technology. It effectively takes fleet management to the next level, allowing fleet managers to drive virtually alongside their drivers.

Drive Vision draws information from vehicle driver behavior data and video event recording technology to provide a bird's-eye view of any incident that may occur, whether it's a hard stop or a serious accident. “This information can be invaluable in accurately reconstructing the events as they occurred to determine the cause of the accident,” John explains.

Drive Vision is a comprehensive dual-camera system that works in conjunction with a competent driving performance program. Onboard vision equipment includes a primary camera that records video footage of the road ahead of the vehicle with a 120-degree outside view, and a secondary driver camera that provides a 160-degree view of the vehicle's cabin with infrared lights for low light conditions. This is used in conjunction with a microphone, which records an audio channel that accompanies the video clip.

The camera system has a built-in accelerometer that records events such as speeding, hard braking, and hard acceleration. When an incident is triggered, a trained administrator at the Data Review Center will review the footage and conduct a comprehensive analysis of the incident and provide a driver coaching report.

"The footage details the actions leading up to the incident, how the incident was handled and the outcome. It is a valuable tool for organizations and will greatly aid risk management efforts and be of great benefit to both the driver and the company," explains John.

"Drive Vision ultimately translates into predictable and sustainable reductions in fleet operating costs, particularly in terms of savings on fuel and maintenance costs. At its core, Drive Vision also provides fleet owners with an unprecedented way to reduce the frequency of collisions and damage , something South Africa’s roads desperately need,” John concluded.