Road safety solutions from Microlise Group
Microlise Group has explained how its portfolio of road safety products can assist in protecting fleet drivers and other road users, including from incidents that occur as a result of driver distraction.
“For HGV drivers in particular, navigating busy streets and tight deadlines can lead to a dip in attention and increased risk on the road,” said the company.
“Likewise, maintaining a safe fleet extends beyond just safe driving. Ensuring vehicle maintenance is carried out in a timely fashion is crucial to safety.
“That’s why initiatives like the Direct Vision Standard (DVS) and DVSA Earned Recognition Scheme are crucial steps towards ensuring the safety of all road users.”
Microlise cites research suggesting that drivers are four times more likely to cause an accident if they’re distracted, and says reaction time is often the key factor that turns a near miss into a costly incident.
The group introduced the Clearvision AI Distraction Camera 12 months ago, as a solution to mitigate distractions and improve fleet safety.
“Harnessing the power of artificial intelligence, this innovative camera can detect distractions, allowing fleet managers to intervene and address these behaviours before they lead to accidents,” said Microlise.
“The results speak for themselves, with significant reductions in distraction-related incidents reported by companies using the technology.
“Utilising millions of kilometres worth of driving data combined with human review, the system detects various forms of distraction, including smoking, texting and other phone use, eating and drinking, unfastened driver seatbelt, lens obstruction, possible fatigue [and] other general distractions.
“The Clearvision AI Distraction Camera uses Machine Vision (MV) and AI to improve driver safety by sending a visual and audio alert in real time to a driver engaged in distracted driving, allowing them to correct their behaviour. If the driver continues their risky behaviour, the event is registered to the Microlise System for manager review.”
Fleet managers can review these system alerts and use Microlise’s incident data recorder to investigate incidents quickly, adds Microlise; clear high definition recordings can be reviewed when an event is registered, making it easy to conduct quick and simple debriefs and offer coaching to improve behaviour.
Microlise says it has also harnessed the power of AI to meet the requirements of the new Progressive Safe System (PSS) which will be introduced in October 2024.
“The key difference between the existing Safe System (SS) and the PSS lies in an upgraded sensor system. Our MOIS and BSIS AI radar assisted sensors are able to ignore static items such as street furniture or traffic cones and only alert the driver to vulnerable road users such as cyclists or pedestrians.
“Our blind spot cameras remain in place offering the driver a view of the nearside of the vehicle on a screen in-cab and managers the ability to download footage to aid investigation should the unthinkable happen.”
Following the acquisition of K-Safe in December 2023, Microlise Group also now offers a cutting-edge safety app.
“Available to download from Google Play and Apple App Store, Flare is used by cyclists, scooter riders, and other vulnerable road users (VRUs) to help them stay safe,” explained the company.
“By sharing their location with the Flare network, users of the app contribute to making roads safer for everyone.
“With the integration of Flare, our Driver Hazard Warning App can now alert drivers to the presence of these dynamic hazards (VRUs using the Flare App) along with static hazards such as low bridges, weight and width restrictions, reducing the risk of accidents further.
“With its considerable reach, Flare has been adopted by leading companies like Deliveroo, Uber Eats, Bolt, VOI, and Tier. This network comprises around 8 million VRUs, making our DHW app even more powerful and giving drivers an all-important additional layer of visibility.”
Again as a result of an acquisition, Microlise Group also offers tools to assist with compliance – and to achieve, and maintain, Earned Recognition status.
“TruTac helps our customers to keep their vehicles in top condition, reducing the risk of collisions or fatalities due to vehicle faults like worn tyres or brake light failures.
“TruTac provides a vehicle checks app so any issues raised by drivers feed directly into a maintenance schedule where repairs are scheduled and recorded. Service schedules and MOTs are also planned giving managers a view of their fleet, including when vehicles are unavailable.”
Meanwhile, Microlise’s Trailer Brake Performance Monitoring solution monitors trailer brakes continuously to help ensure that they are operating at optimum levels.
“Microlise Trailer Brake Performance Monitoring not only actively monitors trailer brake performance and alerts fleet managers should they fall below a given value, but it also negates the need for the recommended interim rolling road brake tests whilst potentially increasing trailer service intervals,” said the company.
