News
Horror bus accidents in SA highlights greater need for Fleet Management systems
30 June 2010
The recent spate of horror bus crashes on South African roads has left many South Africans querying why so many people are dying on our roads and the role of bus operators in road safety. A Carte Blanche investigation on bus safety has once again focused on a possible reduction of the speed limit applicable to buses, more stringent roadworthy tests as well as the dangers of drowsiness amongst bus drivers.
MiX Telematics, a global leader in the efficient and effective management of mobile assets, believes companies operating in the bus and coach market in South Africa need to invest more in fleet management solutions to solve safety issues. Gert Pretorius, managing director of MiX Telematics (Enterprise), says that these solutions are already well entrenched across the UK, Europe and the rest of the world and with an installed base totaling many thousands of vehicles, MiX Telematics is clearly the leading providers of fleet management solutions in the bus and coach sector.
One just needs to speak to someone like David Brown, managing director Surface Transport, Transport for London to appreciate the value of implementing such a solution. “This is an initiative all bus operators should look at. It helps drivers do their job, improves customer care and ultimately will save the company money. We thoroughly recommend it,” says Brown.
“Telematics has the potential to fundamentally change the way in which fleets are managed but locally, the integration of telematics into fleet management has been far slower than in the rest of the world,” says Pretorius. “Commercial telematics solutions have proven themselves as tools for fundamentally changing the way fleets are managed. They are not potential changers, they are proven changers.”
Given the importance of not only passenger safety but also on-time delivery and the high cost of fuel, knowing exactly where vehicles are and monitoring their drivers seem like definite advantages. Perhaps one of the greatest advantages of telematics to fleet operators is the improved security it provides. Pretorius says that fleet management solutions, designed specifically for this sector, can substantially reduce accident rates and enhance the overall passenger experience and safety.
Few operators really appreciate the significant impact driver behaviour has on safety and operating expenses. The in-cab display from MiX Telematics provides an ideal solution. Conveniently located on the dashboard it rates driver performance according to five key areas including harsh acceleration, harsh braking, excessive idling, over revving and over speeding. “The beauty of this feature is that it acts like a permanent in-cab trainer providing the driver with continuous feedback which helps him to correct his driving immediately,” says Pretorius.
This in turn is linked to the FM Communicator, MiX Telematics flagship onboard computer, which records all driver behaviour and rates this in a report. Information about the improvement in a company’s fleet can be viewed in real-time from any internet ready PC. One will be forwarded a dashboard of measures and reports.
MiX Telematics is one of the first companies to be able to directly ‘plug’ into the CANbus of buses. “Through telematics we can minimise unnecessary expenses that impact on a company’s bottom line while improving safety and customer comfort too,” concludes Pretorius.
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