Driver monitoring in 2025 to prevent fleet driving accidents

Accidents are ongoing concerns for fleet managers in the United Kingdom and elsewhere. These incidents can injure drivers and others on the road, raise insurance rates and negatively impact reputation. However, many decision-makers are integrating driver monitoring systems into vehicles to reduce accidents.

What Is Driver Monitoring Technology?

Driver monitoring technology includes hardware and software installed in or on a vehicle. A driver-facing camera is usually a central element, built directly into the dashboard or as an external device that attaches to the dash.

Monitoring products have algorithms that analyse drivers’ behaviour to create a baseline for safe usage. They then flag abnormalities and alert vehicle operators. Most send that data to fleet managers or other designated parties.

Many solutions also allow drivers and managers to track data over time. Those statistics provide excellent coaching opportunities and show fleet leaders if individual drivers need urgent corrective action to mitigate risks.

What Can Driver Monitoring Tools Track?

Tools that analyse drivers generally fall into two main categories — tracking the user’s driving performance or their behaviour. The first type of solution might track hard braking, quick acceleration or the operator taking corners too sharply. A behaviour-based product catches things like drowsiness, distracted driving or anger.

Many tools use integrated sensors to capture details about a driver’s pulse or temperature as the person holds the steering wheel. However, in-vehicle cameras can also detect head angles, which could indicate someone is looking away from the road.

Implementing Monitoring Solutions for Accident Prevention

If you’re interested in using tailored products for your fleet’s drivers, purposeful steps will increase the chances of a smooth rollout.

1. Set Measurable and Actionable Goals

Gather feedback from drivers, supervisors and other relevant parties before deciding how your company will use the technology. Consider getting inspiration for your efforts by seeing what other companies have done.

Omnichannel technology retailer Currys began using driver telematics products in 2016. These products provide real-time driver feedback and have resulted in a 98% reduction in risky driving styles. Related statistics indicate the implementation lowered annual blameworthy accidents by 15.8% over six years. Selecting specific metrics and creating goals with them will keep drivers motivated and accountable.

2. Select the Desired Features

Pinpointing the cause of accidents is not always straightforward. Although your drivers may be at fault, mechanical failures can also occur. Additionally, the roads are full of risks. Other drivers and emerging situations can cause accidents, even when your operators do everything right. Take the time to determine which product capabilities best support your risk-reduction efforts.

Vendors sell many monitoring tools as packages you can customise to meet requirements. Consider referring to several years of internal accident data to identify trends and learn what caused most incidents. If you choose a telematics product, it combines numerous valuable features, offering vehicle diagnostics, positioning data and more. It’s then easy to monitor your assets across long distances, giving you better visibility.

3. View Accident Prevention as a Shared Responsibility

Your decision to use driver monitoring software this year could be part of a larger effort to strengthen an internal safety culture. People should ideally recognise how they collectively contribute to a company’s accident reduction statistics.

For example:

• Dispatchers must distribute workloads fairly and provide adequate breaks.
• Managers must give drivers ongoing feedback and reward good driving habits.
• Drivers must follow all laws and company rules whilst prioritising self-improvement.
• Administrators must keep accurate records about licenses and vehicle maintenance.
• Trainers must educate drivers on the latest regulations and other relevant updates.

Neglecting one area may trigger a ripple effect that increases incident risks. Following the rules of the road is important, but it is not the only way to stay safe. A persistent lack of upkeep can cause catastrophic failures that lead to accidents. Becoming aware of issues earlier makes them more manageable. In such cases, administrators could mention that they received notification that a specific vehicle needs an inspection, or a driver could bring up how a truck has started acting strangely upon braking.

Will You Use Driver Monitoring Tools in 2025?

Driver monitoring tools can increase your company’s safety this year. These tips can help you use them effectively and show operators these solutions benefit everyone.

Author: Evelyn Long, Editor-in-Chief of Renovated Magazine