How Can DMS And ADAS Optimise Your Fleet?

Technology is getting more advanced as we are moving forward. With this quick change in technology, our lives are transforming too. Fleet management software has also evolved into better versions over the course of a few years. Video telematics is what takes traditional fleets to ones that are ahead, fully optimised. Managers have more control over activities for their fleets and they can monitor drivers more closely. This will help your fleet not only be more productive but also make better profits. Before we proceed with learning about DMS and ADAS, let us have a look at video telematics.

What is Video Telematics?

Traditionally, fleet management software sends textual alerts and information to managers. They are then required to work on such information provided to them. But this comes with its own set of limitations. Lack of evidence is the biggest problem that can occur in such cases.

Video telematics is the system that provides visual information to managers regarding their fleet. But instead of it being in a textual form, it sends pictures and videos as evidence. This information can be about things like driver activities, consignment safety, and so on. Contextualising driver behaviour reports happens through this system.

Managers can track activities taking place not just inside, but also around vehicles through cameras and sensors. This system provides additional security for fleets.

What Are the Different Parts of Video Telematics?

There are two features video telematics has to offer. These are:

• Driver Monitoring System (DMS): 

Fleet drivers are the ones ultimately in control of fleets. This is why they are the main focus of video telematics. A fleet management system’s driver behaviour solution ensures that a vehicle is being driven properly on road. But DMS takes it to the next level and allows you to also make sure that drivers are not distracted as they control vehicles.

The system allows you to set custom events and provides video evidence to managers upon any event triggering. Managers can then take necessary action to ensure fleet safety.

• Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS): 

For complete optimisation, it is important to also be mindful of the activities taking place around a vehicle. This is where ADAS comes into play. It uses cameras to track activities around a vehicle. These activities can be due to a driver’s actions or some other vehicle on road. There are no fixed events that form a part of ADAS and businesses can integrate the ones most suitable to them.

Features Commonly Integrated With DMS

DMS’s job is to ensure drivers are attentive on road. This is why the following events are often integrated with the system:

Yawning

While drivers are on road for extended time periods without break, they are bound to be fatigued. This can affect their driving as well, as it is not ideal to make important decisions on the road while tired. It can cause accidents, leading to great repercussions. Yawning is a sign of tired and inattentive driving.

This is why the software detects it as an event and alerts managers every time it is triggered. After receiving an alert, managers can take necessary actions, in most cases advising drivers to stop and take a break. This prevents any potential calamity from happening.

Drowsy

There can be several reasons behind drivers’ drowsiness behind wheels. One is similar to the previous point, tiredness. Driving under influence (DUI) can be another reason behind drowsiness. These acts are not only dangerous but can land drivers in trouble, ultimately affecting the fleet.

Dashcams study drivers and detect drowsiness signs. Once managers are alerted, they can detect the reason behind such a situation.

Smoking

Smoking is bad practice for drivers that have been entrusted with high-value consignments. In case of flammable consignments, it can cause fatal accidents. This endangers drivers, and vehicles and can cause losses for the business.

Drivers might lose focus of their surroundings and cause an accident while smoking. This is why managers are informed of smoking acts via alerts. They can take necessary actions regarding such issues that are best suited for their fleet’s safety.

Distracted Driving

Every fleet’s drivers have high responsibility for riding on their backs. This is why drivers need to be extra mindful of their practices on road. They cannot afford to make errors like inattentive driving as the consequences of such acts are huge.

Distracted driving can include a lot of things. Drivers could be on their phones or eating while driving and so on. Whenever cameras detect such activities, they alert managers. They can take necessary actions to rectify these situations.

Camera Blocking

It becomes impossible for the system to detect any ill-practice when it does not have a clear view of the driver. This camera obstruction can be both intentional or accidental on the driver's part.

This is why an event is registered into a fleet management system every time the camera detects any blockage. Once managers receive an alert, they can instruct drivers to clear their camera's path.

Driver Absence

Most fleets hire their drivers after careful consideration. This includes looking into their previous experience and training their drivers properly before assigning tasks. But if drivers pass on their responsibility to unknown people, it wastes all the effort and time spent on their hiring process.

This is why dash cams have face recognition features. They can detect whether the person behind wheels is their designated driver or somebody else. In case of change, managers get alerts and can investigate further.

What Are the Features Commonly Integrated With ADAS?

Video telematics will not just help drivers keep surveillance over their drivers, but also help drivers themselves. It warns them about any potential risks they might encounter on the journey. There are no fixed ADAS features added to the system but are up for customisation according to the fleet’s requirements. Some commonly used ADAS features are:

Lane Departure Warning

Driving in correct lanes is a very essential part of road safety. If a vehicle shifts lanes too quickly without warning other drivers about this movement, there can be collisions that might cause harm to both vehicles. This is the reason why lane departure is one important ADAS feature.

It alerts managers whenever a car shifts lanes too abruptly. Drivers are aware of this alert system, which ensures that they do not break rules deliberately. If an accident takes place where the driver is not at fault, video evidence collected by the software can vouch for them.

Collision Prevention

With advancements in technology, we now have cameras that can detect the distance between objects while surveillance. This technology is used by fleet management systems to ensure that a fleet’s vehicles remain at a safe distance from other vehicles.

In case the vehicle gets too close to some object, not only does the system send an alert to managers, but also beeps to warn managers. This way, drivers can navigate their vehicles to avoid any collisions

Traffic-sign Recognition

Traffic signals are created to ensure vehicle safety. They prevent any accidents from happening between vehicles travelling from opposite ends. This is why, when a driver decides to jump signals, they are not only breaking driving etiquette but also their and the vehicle’s safety.

The cameras used for ADAS have features to identify signal status. This means every time vehicles try to proceed at the wrong time, an event will be triggered. Managers are then alerted and they take measures to prevent such instances from happening any longer.

Parking Assistance

Parking assistance is one of the most commonly used ADAS. It allows drivers to navigate their available space to park into a lot better through alarms. These cameras provide video to drivers for them to have a clear view of the areas that are not in their direct line of sight. It also sends video evidence to managers of their drivers' parking.

Overspeeding

Overspeeding is extremely damaging to all vehicles. This is because it negatively affects engine health. When a vehicle over speeds, it forces the faster engine mechanism. This not can lead to unnecessary breakdowns and also has an impact on fuel consumption. A vehicle under stress will not only consume more fuel but also produce more emissions.

Benefits of Video Telematics Solution

Integrating these DMS and ADAS features with your fleet management system can benefit your fleet in several ways. Some of them include:

Security

The primary installation purpose of video telematics and integration with fleet management software is to ensure fewer accidents on road. Acts like distracted driving are one of the leading causes of road fatalities. But with DMS, such activities make sure drivers are focused.

Even with ADAS, managers can keep control of their fleet. With features like collision alerts, drivers stay alert about their proximity to other objects or vehicles on road.

Low Maintenance

When vehicles are driven while being mindful of their health, they will garner less depreciation than usual. This means that they will require fewer maintenance procedures and will run in their optimal state for way longer.

It is easier for managers to navigate their vehicles; health with fleet management systems. A huge reason for vehicle wear and tear is driving practices on road. Things like overspeeding can cause unnecessary pressure on engines resulting in frequent breakdowns.

Better Driver Behaviour

With DMS, managers maintain constant surveillance over their rivers. This means drivers become conscious of their activities and pay better attention to the roads. Drivers have the power to make or break a fleet. This is why when their practices are optimised fleet quality automatically improves.

Fuel Conservation

Fuel costs are a major concern for all fleets. This is because of ever-rising fuel prices digging a hole in the fleet owners’ pockets. One of the reasons for businesses to invest in fleet management systems is fuel consumption.

With video telematics, vehicle activities on road improve. Thus, they stay in better condition for a longer period of time. An automobile in good condition will consume way less fuel than one that has depreciated a lot.

Even things like overspeeding have a negative impact on a fleet’s fuel consumption, causing higher CO2 emissions.

Insightful Decisions

Both DMS and ADAS provide the system with reports. These reports can be studied by managers to come up with the best-suited strategies for fleet optimisation. For example, a manager observes that driver A has constant distracted driving complaints on his record.

With this knowledge, managers can enrol driver A into a road safety training program so that he can learn ways to avoid any distracted driving instances. This will not only increase fleet efficiency but will also positively impact its quality.

Easier Insurance

Vehicle insurance is a big expense for all fleets. But with a fleet management system, businesses can cut down on this cost. Insurance companies come up with customised premium plans for vehicles that have video telematics integrated.

Having video evidence of any accident caused by a vehicle also makes the application process for insurance claims easier. It can help clear the name of parties that were not at fault as this evidence vouch for them.

Real-time Alert

The video telematics solution uses a GPS tracking system to track real-time fleet vehicles. With this, managers can ensure the fleet’s safety. In most ADAS features, alerts are sent to managers when a vehicle is under any potential threat.

This is why it is essential that drivers and managers receive alerts of these threats as soon as possible. Otherwise, prevention will be impossible to implement.

Minimised Cost

When DMS and ADAS are integrated with a fleet, they are bound to make better profits than before. This is because video telematics help vehicles cut down their wear and tear. This ensures longer-running fleets.

Through ADAS, drivers can navigate the places around their vehicle that are not in their direct line of sight. For example, a parking assistance system gives drivers a full back and side view of their vehicles. This means that while reversing a car, they will be able to ensure no bumping into objects/other vehicles.

Wrapping Up

Now you know about all the diverse features that DMS and ADAS have to offer. We have also listed all benefits that can help our business soar in the fleet industry. So why wait to optimise your vehicles?

Wondering which fleet management system is best suited for you? Check out TrackoBit, one of the leading software in the market. It is impossible to go wrong with all its solutions.

Every fleet does not function in similar ways. This is why we allow you to choose what you want. This flexibility will surely help you take your fleet to the next level.