Keeping your drivers and those around your vehicles safe should be your number one priority when it comes to running a fleet. This is why an alert solution to prevent pedestrian collisions is incredibly important. Not only is an accident involving a pedestrian almost always fatal, but it's extremely traumatic for your drivers as well.
According to Arrive Alive, when it comes to road deaths in South Africa, pedestrians make up 35–40% of them. This statistic is incredibly high, and even though the pedestrian could be at fault, it's important that fleet managers take the necessary steps to prevent pedestrian accidents as much as possible.
This blog will explore all the different types of pedestrian collision prevention alert solutions for your fleet. Determine which solution is the right one for you and how Cartrack provides you with operational intelligence.
The devices used to prevent pedestrian collisions are:
These are some of the top devices you as a fleet manager should get, depending on your budget and fleet needs.
Your basic dashcams will just record the road, while an AI camera system—like the one from Cartrack—has eyes in the cabin and on the road. These top-of-the-range AI cameras are fitted with an Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) and Driver Monitoring Systems (DMS).
DMS is used to detect driver behaviours that could be dangerous, such as:
ADAS software is used to pick up:
Radar sensors use radio waves to identify objects in a specific range to the vehicle.
LiDAR works by sending out invisible laser pulses that bounce off objects to take a detailed 3D map of the car’s surroundings.
AEB is a safety tech that works with onboard sensors, GPS, radars, cameras and lasers. It is triggered when a driver isn’t braking or doing it fast enough to prevent a collision.
Fleets need a pedestrian collision prevention alert because there’s too much risk to your operations if your drivers do hit a pedestrian. Depending on where your fleet operates most, they’re either on the road or on site, and for both, there are pedestrians around.
Trucks are big and have plenty of blind spots. It’s very easy for your driver to not see a person crossing the road or walking behind the vehicle, leading to a devastating accident.
If you want to ensure that your drivers and those around the vehicle are safe, you should equip your fleet with high-tech AI cameras. Ones that give you full visibility around your vehicles and that also have a pedestrian collision prevention alert.
There are severe consequences for hitting a pedestrian, such as:
Vehicle cameras protect your company and your drivers from accident liability by providing indisputable evidence. Other ways that vehicle cameras can assist are by improving your drivers' bad driving habits, protecting your business and drivers against false claims and reducing legal costs.
Let’s say your driver, David, is on his way to drop off a shipment to your client; the robot is green as he's approaching it, and he’s driving the speed limit. A guy runs across the road as he’s approaching the robot; he sees him, and he gets a pedestrian alert from his AI camera system. He brakes, but unfortunately he still knocks the pedestrian down.
The man was injured, makes a claim against your business and your driver for negligent driving and wants compensation. However, your vehicle is equipped with Cartrack’s AI Multivision camera system, and you have proof that the pedestrian was actually at fault.
You have now prevented a PR nightmare for your company, expensive legal fees, and on top of that, you’ve protected your driver.
The true cost that comes with bumping a pedestrian with your vehicle is not the damage but the trauma your driver will have. A normal accident is bad enough, but to hit a person directly can completely affect your drivers.
This factor will cost you far more than any damage to your vehicle. If your driver has bumped someone, the possibility of it taking a toll on them mentally and emotionally is incredibly high. They’ll possibly have PTSD and could be a hazard on the road afterwards because they’re now afraid of knocking down someone else.
This can affect your fleet operations, which is why having a pedestrian collision prevention alert solution will help your drivers feel safer on the road and more supported.
No single pedestrian accident prevention system is the best; however, the combination of ADAS, LiDAR and AEB would be viewed as the most accurate option. At the end of the day you need to find what works for your fleet and your budget.
If your fleet operates in mostly remote places where foot traffic is low, a simple yet efficient tool like an AI camera system is more than enough. However, if your vehicles are operating in major cities and busy urban areas, we suggest getting a full house system that provides your driver with all the tools necessary to stop in time.
An often overlooked tool to prevent pedestrian accidents is driver coaching. When your drivers stay focused, obey speed limits, and navigate corners carefully, they can often spot hazardous pedestrians before issues arise.
These are some of the additional tools besides a pedestrian collision prevention alert that you should get to keep my fleet and drivers safe:
PS: You can get all of these and more from a place that loves your fleet as much as you do! Cartrack!
Having a GPS tracking device and a telematics system will give you and your drivers peace of mind if anything has to happen to your vehicles. You’ll be able to see where your drivers are at all times and optimise their routes, and if your truck gets stolen, Cartrack will go out and get it back to you!
AI multivision cameras are incredibly important. Not only will you have eyes on your drivers, but your drivers will have eyes right around their vehicle, including blind spots. These cameras assist with decreasing the chance of accidents happening, and they can help with any insurance claims if an accident does occur!
Driver scorecards work wonderfully to get your drivers motivated to drive better and safer. Drivers automatically have 100 points, and points are removed for each bad driving event, like harsh braking, speeding, skipping red lights, distracted driving, etc. You can also reward good driver behaviour with incentives to keep your team motivated!
Installing panic buttons in your fleet is a must! These aren’t only for cases of hijackings but also for any emergency your drivers face. If your driver bumps a pedestrian in the middle of the night in a remote area and has no cellphone coverage, they can press the panic button, and our dispatches will send help!
Predictive maintenance is so important to keeping your fleet and drivers safe. The last thing you want is the brakes or gearbox to fail while your drivers are on the road. Predictive maintenance can prevent all of this from happening by picking up faults before they cause a catastrophe!
If your drivers are travelling in South Africa where vehicle theft is common, you should invest in remote vehicle immobilisation. This way you’ll know if your vehicle has been taken by an unauthorised individual, and you’ll be able to stop the vehicle in its tracks before it gets stripped for parts.
So if you’re ready to keep those in and out of your vehicles safe, contact us today to get our road safety ecosystem in your fleet!
Learn how AI cameras and sensors protect your drivers and save lives. See how Cartrack helps you avoid expensive legal fees and keeps your fleet running safely.
