An in-vehicle monitoring system - or IVMS - consists of an electronic device or number of devices installed in a vehicle to monitor driver activities and help identify behaviours such as excessive speed, harsh braking, rapid acceleration or drowsy driving.
In-vehicle monitoring systems (IVMS) are integral to effective and successful fleet management. They are comprised either a single device or a number of them working in tandem and are used, as the name suggests, to monitor both vehicle performance and driver behaviour. These systems can provide warnings and evidence of a wide range of dangerous or undesirable driver behaviours, including:
- Excessive speeding
- Aggressive acceleration
- Harsh braking
- Tailgating
- Rough cornering
- Drowsy driving
This makes IVMS technology essential to the monitoring, maintenance and improvement of road and driver safety standards. Telematics and its associated technologies have revolutionised fleet management in recent years, and are now widely accepted as an industry standard.
Q: How can IVMS improve driver safety?
A: Employers have a basic duty of care to their employees, and must take all reasonable steps to ensure their safety while they’re at work. This is a particularly complex matter for firms operating fleets of vehicles, as these vehicles spend extended periods away from their base and, without the assistance of effective vehicle tracking technology, it is very difficult to monitor their use.
IVMS, on the other hand, provides fleet managers with hard evidence about the way their drivers conduct themselves when they’re out on the road. The data collected by IVMS vehicle monitoring technology allows fleet managers to identify potential causes for concern; these can then be discussed with drivers, with the data being used as a very powerful debriefing tool.
This can then feed into individually-tailored driver training schemes, devised specifically to help drivers deal with particular shortcomings and weaknesses. This is how IVMS is playing an important role to driving up standards of road and driver safety.
Q: Can IVMS help fleets save money?
A: Yes. There are a number of areas in which the introduction of IVMS can help fleets reduce costs. For example, by providing fleets with detailed insights into driver performance and allowing for improvements where required, IVMS technology can reduce the rate of accidents and thereby cutting the costs associated with these.
There are other potential financial benefits for fleets that introduce IVMS. By encouraging more responsible and calmer driving, IVMS can also help to reduce the costs associated with excessive fuel consumption and maintenance costs, as well as potentially extending vehicle lifespan and allowing fleets to get more out of them.
Q: How can fleets persuade drivers to accept IVMS?
A: Although vehicle tracking technology is now widely adopted by fleets across a huge range of industries, it is important for fleets introducing IVMS to do so in a way that takes into account the opinions and concerns of drivers.
Fleet managers should therefore take the time to explain to drivers how IVMS benefits them and how it will work as part of a broader approach to driving up safety standards through driver training. As well as helping drivers to improve their own skills, IVMS can help to simplify their routine by reducing the risk of unscheduled vehicle breakdowns, for example.
Q: What factors should fleets consider when choosing an IVMS?
A: As there are so many IVMS options on the market, it is essential that fleet managers have a clear idea of what they are looking for when they choose a particular system. There are a number of questions to take into consideration in this regard. These include:
- How will you integrate IVMS into the operation of your fleet?
- How will you successfully make use of the data insights IVMS provides?
- Will your fleet require GPS tracking devices or mobile coverage?
- What ongoing support will you require with your IVMS technology?
At Teletrac Navman, we can provide your business with a vehicle tracking system that’s built for your specific needs. Take a closer look to find out more about what we can do to help your fleet go that extra mile.