Our discussions on improving driver safety often focus on using technology to make highway travel safer and more efficient for fleets of all sizes. But the reality is that revisiting the safety basics can significantly impact your drivers and others on the road.
Did you Know?
The first traffic light as we know it – Red, Yellow, Green – was invented in 1923.
Red Means Stop
Each August, Stop On Red Week is observed across the country. Created by the Federal Highway Administration (FHA) in 1995, Stop on Red is designed to educate the public and drivers about the severity of traffic collisions and how fundamental safety at red lights and stop signs can save thousands of lives. Stop on Red Week 2022 begins August 7, and as it approaches, it is an important reminder to revisit the basics that make the road safer for us all. For companies with fleet vehicles, it’s especially critical to implement tech that safeguards their drivers and assets.
Following basic traffic rules might seem obvious, yet at least 50 million people are injured or disabled by road traffic crashes every year. In fact, even with all the safety upgrades to vehicles and new technology to help drivers, road crashes are the leading cause of death in the U.S. for people under age 54. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), collisions resulting from red light safety violations were responsible for 11,877 deaths between 2004 and 2018, and an additional 139,000 people were injured.
Put Down the Phone
According to the NHTSA, distracted driving claimed 3,142 lives in 2020 and injured more than 420,000 drivers. It’s not hard to believe that one of the leading causes of distracted driving is our cell phones—the National Safety Council reported that cellphone use accounted for 27% of all car accidents. That’s unsurprising because, at 55 MPH, a quick glance to read or send a text diverts attention from the road for five seconds, long enough to travel the length of a football field. In fact, cellphone use behind the wheel increases the risk of a crash by 165%.
Think checking your phone at a red light isn’t distracted driving? Think again. According to the FHA, more than 50% of injuries and fatalities occur at or near intersections. Think of this all-too-common scenario:
A driver is at a red light is on his phone and he misses the light turning green. In a New York minute, the person behind them honks, the distracted driver floors the pedal to the metal without checking his surroundings and drives into the busy intersection—where others are also distracted—causing a roadway collision. Or perhaps the person behind him is too impatient, swerves around, and causes a collision. Either way, snapping a selfie or sliding in the DMs at a redlight is a recipe for disaster.
To fight temptation, drivers need to put their phones out of reach until they are off the road.
Why Stop on Red Week Is Important
1. It reiterates the importance of traffic signals
Too often, traffic signals are not taken seriously by people in a rush. Hence, road accidents near busy intersections are frequent across the country. The purpose of Stop On Red Week is to highlight the importance of traffic signals and the damage caused when rules are ignored.
2. It teaches everyone to avoid reckless driving
Stop On Red Week focuses on how essential a red traffic light is in controlling vehicle speeds, bringing the issue of reckless driving to the forefront. While frustrating to get caught at a light when you’re running late to work, think about how late you would be if nobody let you make a left turn. Now, think about how dangerous the roads would be if drivers barreled through intersections without pause. Not only do red lights control traffic direction—they control traffic speed.
3. It reintroduces traffic rules
While everyone knows the basic traffic rules, it’s forgotten how important they are and why they must be adhered to at all costs. Traffic laws curb unnecessary deaths and injuries for both drivers and pedestrians.
Improving Driver Safety with Tech
When it comes to paying attention and common sense on the road, sometimes we can all use a little assistance. While devices like smartphones or tablets are leading accident culprits, proactive technologies like smart cams can help reduce them. Smart dash cameras enabled with AI and machine learning can detect stop sign and traffic signal violations to inform driver coaching and real-time in-cab alerts. Whether a violation is due to driver negligence, distractions, or drowsiness, proactive recognition and correction of dangerous behavior protects your drivers from harm—and at the very least, can help avoid costly traffic tickets.
Not all smart cams are built the same. The market-leading Driver•i system by GPS Insight provides real-time incident detection, the ability to determine who’s at fault, and intelligent automated reporting to improve driver safety and reduce costs.
Many smart camera options sound similar in their resolution, run time, and other features. They also have a similar intent, which is to react to unsafe driving.
Driver•i takes that a step further. Rather than react to unsafe driving, it automatically analyzes every minute on the road so you can dedicate your time to coaching your drivers rather than watching hours of video. Driver•i is built on powerful Artificial Intelligence, industry-leading computer vision, and edge computing. This allows the system to rapidly analyze everything on the road and report only the most meaningful information through the cell network.
Driver•i also looks out for managers with easy-to-read admin dashboards that help you chart a course to unprecedented fleet safety. You’ll be able to compare performance over time and ensure you stay ahead of any emerging issues.
