The truck cab used to be a quiet place where drivers could enjoy the peace of the road. But a few decades ago, technology began making some noise in those cabs, all in an effort to improve safety. The sound of bells prompting them to put on their seat belts was soon joined by a chorus of dings and dongs advising drivers to slow down and to stay in their lanes. Now, the chorus sometimes sounds like an orchestra.
These safety alerts are popular for a reason. They work! Fleet safety managers––and drivers––will readily attest to how they have reduced instances of speeding, inadequate following distance, and lane departures. They’ll also tell you the benefits of warning drivers to slow down on dangerous curves, and the alert benefits of telling of poor or dangerous weather conditions that are literally just around the bend.
In-cab alerts and notifications have made drivers aware of risky habits they didn’t even realize they had. In other words, they have made them safer.
But as with all good things like fine wine and desserts, there are risks of overdoing it. Now, in-cab systems not only alert drivers to instances of speeding and lane departures, but also to suspected drowsiness, prohibited cell phone use, and many other distractions. Each of these notifications boasts a unique phrase or note, a “bing,” “ding,” or “dong.” like a xylophone in a marching band. As one safety manager described the modern truck cab: “It’s starting to sound like a casino in there!”
Fleet managers find themselves trying to find a balance between reaping the benefits of in-cab safety alerts and the risk of diminishing returns. In-the-moment safety notifications are a powerful tool that is too valuable to ignore. But too many alerts can cause drivers to tune them out or be dangerously distracted by them. What’s the best approach then?
Darren King, a Senior Trial Success manager with Netradyne, a provider of video event recorders, told me that he encourages fleets to deploy systems that are highly configurable; ones that allow fleet managers to determine which alerts sound off in the cab. With this flexibility, safety campaigns can focus on specific behaviors -- limiting alerts to those that are the campaign’s focus. Then, after achieving the campaign’s objectives, they can launch new campaigns to focus on different behaviors. Darren told me that changing these alerts helps prevent alert fatigue and the potential that drivers will begin to tune them out. Plus, new alerts are more attention-grabbing and impactful.
He also recommends using verbal notifications as opposed to beeps and chimes. A driver who only hears a chime has to recall what that tone means. Was that to indicate a lane departure? In contrast, spoken alerts make the point more clearly.
Doug Marcello, a trucking industry defense attorney with Saxton and Stump, advises carriers to identify the behaviors associated with their most frequent crashes and prioritize the behaviors related to them. Speeding, following distance, and lane departures will likely top the list. However, he also pointed to the need to address infrequent, high-consequence events - like running full speed into a traffic backup.
The consensus of these experts and others is that there are several common principles fleets should follow. They are:
- Eliminate redundancy. Fleets that use OEM-installed advanced driver assistance (ADAS) systems and aftermarket devices often find they have redundant capabilities. For instance, many aftermarket video event recorders (i.e., cameras) will provide lane departure alerts that echo those of factory-installed hardware.
- Prioritize – At some point, fleets simply need to decide which alerts and notifications matter most. For example, do audible notifications for those only modestly exceeding the speed limit really move the needle?
- Remember the high-consequence events. Prioritizing based on crash and behavior frequency is certainly important, but don’t forget about severity. Some alerts are too important to preempt, such as those for stopped traffic and low bridges.
- Filter and sample. While the most basic systems are designed to provide audible alerts every time a risky behavior is detected, some are more sophisticated. Many camera systems, for example, will intermittently provide reminders to drivers to cease risky behaviors, especially those that are more common and minor, like trifling speeding events. They will then send the fleet safety manager video samples of these events, but certainly not clips of every occurrence.
- Consider more than just audio – Most systems rely on audible notifications to prompt behavior change, but not all. Some provide visual notifications instead, which offer a unique way to distinguish them from the noise in the cab and capture the driver’s attention.
There is no “right” formula for enabling in-cab safety notifications, but there is a wrong one. Turning them all off or shunning safety technology entirely misses an opportunity to reduce crashes, one that is too big to ignore. Leaving all notifications enabled would be a mistake too, especially when competing in-cab systems present redundant alerts or, even worse, conflicting alerts.
Instead, the most successful fleet managers are finding ways to leverage these tools effectively. They are evaluating claims data, both frequency and severity, and developing strategies that will bring the highest yield while minimizing threats to driver satisfaction. These strategies must be continually refined, however, as new technologies are introduced and driver behavior continues to change.
