Using Video Data to Reduce Fleet Risks
Stephanie Forster
Director of Insurance Programs, SmartDrive Systems, Inc.
Human error contributes to 94 percent of crashes according to decades of NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) research. How do you best capture these human errors to coach drivers and reduce risk, near collisions and collisions? And how do you protect fleet drivers and vehicles when 80% of accidents are caused by other drivers?
While data from the vehicle and telematics solutions is powerful, it can’t determine if the light was red, yellow or green in a situation involving hearsay. Nor can it tell you why the driver had a hard brake or what caused mystery damage to your vehicles.
The Right Data at the Right Time
Research has shown that for every 300 unsafe acts, there will be 29 minor collisions and onemajor collision. The key to eliminating major collisions is tackling unsafe driving performance.
Video safety technology solutions capture a clear video picture to provide situational context both outside and inside the vehicle. In addition, video also captures how the driver behaved in the vehicle – often exonerating not-at-fault fleet drivers in the process. Fleets with a video-based safety system can:
Reduce collision frequency by up to 50%
- Decrease liability, physical damage and workers’ comp
- Improve claims accuracy and speed resolution
Protect drivers
- Improve driver safety and security
- Exonerate not-at-fault drivers
Decrease operational cost
- Reduce maintenance expense
- Conserve fuel through safer, eco-driving
Actionable Transportation Intelligence
Video safety technology is driving change. Video helps reduce risk and claims settlement times while increasing on-site exonerations and safe driving improvements. At the same time, video provides insights into driver and fleet risk profiles.
Coaching is Key
Identifying risky behaviors and unsafe driving performance will not make an impact without coaching drivers in a timely manner and tracking your drivers’ improvement. Having the right information available and easily actionable increases the instances – and impact – of coaching. Tracking each coach’s impact on your safety score’s improvement ensures consistency across coaches and facilitates the communication of best practices.
Bringing your employees home safely and protecting the community is primary, and public sector fleets are turning to video safety technology to achieve this safety goal. Video safety technology open platforms are now flexible enough to work on a wide variety of fleet vehicles (everything from private passenger type vehicles to heavy duty) with different operational needs, and in differing driving environments.
As a result, public sector fleets are reducing claims costs up to 70% in addition to the 50% reduction in collisions. Innovative fleet technology, such as video safety, can help eliminate the human error factor, protect the driving community and provide tremendous safety savings.
By: Stephanie Forster
Director of Insurance Programs, SmartDrive Systems, Inc.
Summary of Qualifications
Stephanie is director of insurance programs for SmartDrive Systems in San Diego, CA, a video safety solution that reduces claims frequency and costs. She has been working with insurance telematics for over ten years and has spent over fifteen years of professional work experience in translating complex data analytics and technology into tangible, user-friendly products and solutions. Stephanie speaks nationally and internationally regarding insurance telematics.
Responsibilities
Stephanie indentifies and executes insurance program opportunities and maximizes fleet participation in SmartDrive-affiliated insurance programs. She also captures and communicates risk reduction for fleets participating in insurance programs
Business Experience
Prior to joining SmartDrive, Stephanie joined Telogis, Inc., an innovation leader in connected location intelligence located in Aliso Viejo, CA, in 2011 and expanded their commercial insurance telematics program. From 2009 until 2011, she worked with LexisNexis to develop and implement the company's insurance telematics strategy. Stephanie previously worked as a senior account executive for IVOX and as a senior national sales manager for NAVTEQ.
Education
Georgia State University - Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies - Intrapreneurial Leadership and Corporate Communications (Summa Cum Laude, President's List)
