For nearly three decades DDS has been in the trenches alongside drivers, managers and safety/insurance experts. Working together and striving to make our roads safer and our journeys smoother. And for good reason: 1.2 million lives are lost every year all over the globe due to vehicle collisions. That’s a staggering 3,242 deaths every single day. In the United States, the Insurance Information Institute reports that insurance carriers paid out a record $243 billion for auto insurance claims in 2022.
These collisions just aren’t random acts of fate – they are preventable. But we need to embrace technology and move past old ways of doing things. For too long, we’ve relied on driver training as the foundation of our safety programs. And we’ve had some success. But despite our best efforts, the results have not been sustainable. Training can only do so much – it equips drivers with basic skills and sets the bar for on-the-road behavior. But alone, it often falls short in truly altering driver habits because, by itself, it can’t help you keep tabs on what’s happening behind the wheel.
Enter telematics. Whether it’s GPS dongles with built in accelerometers, event-based camera systems or a combination thereof, we now have cutting edge technology at our disposal. GPS devices can now capture harsh events like hard braking or cornering, allowing you to pinpoint areas for improvement in drivers behavior. Camera systems take safety to the next level allowing you to view footage both inside and outside the vehicle, so you can know exactly what happened and provide coaching for improvement. And in the unfortunate event of an accident or dispute, video footage from telematics systems serves as indisputable evidence. It’s like having a black box recorder for your vehicle, documenting every moment leading up to an incident and providing valuable insights for insurance claims.
With telematics leading the charge, we’re poised to turn the tide against unsafe driving, make our roads safer for everyone, and keep insurance premiums in check.