Know which of your drivers will cause your next accident.
We blame technology for many of our ills. Social media is molding us into a society of connected but lonely individuals with the inability to interact face to face. And it’s stripping us of our privacy. Remember when you simply asked your telephone company for an unpublished number when you desired your address to remain confidential? Now, data harvesters gather personal information like a combine mowing a field. They know where we are and what we purchase, to the extent they prompt us on our mobile device for a review of a restaurant even as our dessert is served. They forecast future purchases and sell this information to any bidder. From virus attacks to hacking elections, is there any evil for which technology is not responsible?
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Now cell phones are increasing the rate at which we injure one another on America’s highways. Distracted driving is so pervasive that recent studies indicate such motorists are 2.4 times more likely to cause a collision. 67% of the most severe crashes involve distracted drivers. At any given time, 660,000 of us are using a phone while behind the wheel. As a result, business auto insurance rates are throttling up every year.
This trend is unacceptable. How do we combat it? Through education, sensitivity, and…technology.
Technology Drivers
All the way back in 2003 – fifteen years ago – Honda introduced the world’s first collision mitigation system which senses an impending rear-end collision and takes evasive action. In less than the tick of a clock, it considers your speed, direction, steering wheel angle, distance to the vehicle ahead of you, and even road conditions. It calculates if and how brakes should be applied, tensions your seat belt, and readies you and the vehicle for an impact. Today, sophisticated automatic braking systems are commonplace, reducing rear end collisions even further. And driver-assisted and driver-less cars are a reality.
This trend is unacceptable. How do we combat it? Through education, sensitivity, and…technology.”
The downside to most of this new technology, other than its high cost, is that it is primarily reactive. It helps reduce injury after we put ourselves in a compromising situation. But don’t you want to know which of your drivers are going to cause your next accident? If you could identify these future offenders, how much expense and headache could you save by re-training or removing them?
Here are several proactive means to identify risky drivers.
- Bi-Annual MVR checks (manual method)
- Active (real time) MVR monitoring services, such as SambaSafety.
- Driver training programs, such as those supported by the National Safety Council.
- Encouraging a culture of safety by creating and implementing persistent safety programs.
- Active driver monitoring, such as GEOTAB or Nauto.
Contact your insurance agent with any questions. Don’t have your agent’s contact information? It is listed right in your Client Self Service Portal. Not one of our clients? Contact us to see how we can help with all your business insurance needs.
Livery
If you operate a livery business (taxi, limo, bus, NEMT) we have good news. Sophisticated active driver monitoring is now affordable and easy to implement across your fleet with Nauto. Certain livery insurance companies offer discounts for implementing this system, and costs are often recoverable within the first year in premium savings. Ask your Bankers Insurance agent for more details. Not a client of ours? Contact Eric Lane elane@bankersinsurance.netcreate new email.
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