The holiday season in Australia is always a time for celebration, but with the summer months comes a surge in traffic and trauma on our roads. Despite a strong focus from governments and automotive manufacturers on road safety the fatality rate remains high. According to data from the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications, 1126 people lost their lives on our roads between December 1, 2020 and November 30, 2021 – an increase of 16 fatalities compared to the 1110 recorded over the previous year.
Periods like this highlight the dangers of getting behind the wheel and the importance of road safety. While there are many reasons behind accidents, driver behaviour is often the root cause, which is why it is important for fleet operators and car makers to consider new technologies that can reduce driver error.
Evolution of vehicle safety
Over the last 60 years, safety technology in vehicles that help drivers avoid or reduce the seriousness of a crash has evolved substantially. Key features released over the past few years include: adaptive cruise control, which keeps vehicle speed consistent, and active lane assist, which helps keep a vehicle centred between lanes. Other systems include autonomous emergency braking (AEB) and intelligent speed adaptation (ISA).
By 2025, it is anticipated that over 75 per cent of all new cars sold in Australia will be connected in some way. Over time, we can expect safety technologies to advance in line with increased connectivity and automation. This will present new opportunities to enhance safety for road users.
With this in mind, Intelematics recently partnered with Aeris to bring the Connected Mobility Suite into the Australian market. A key feature of this platform is its safety suite which includes harsh driving alerts (speed, braking, turns), and movement and status change alerts. These features allow changes in vehicle use or driver behaviour to be identified quickly, and action taken, before an accident occurs.
Another key area we need to consider when it comes to vehicle safety is stolen vehicle tracking. A large number of stolen cars result in accidents – affecting the vehicle, driver third-party property and innocent by-standers. Intelematics Stolen Vehicle Tracking (SVT) can track stolen vehicles with the additional option of remotely disabling an engine – to ensure the safety of the driver and the vehicle.
Achieving positive outcomes
At this time of year, when road safety is so critical, it’s important to consider the role of technology and its potential to continue to save lives on our roads. While it is not the only answer, it is becoming increasingly important as vehicles become smarter.
In the future, connected vehicles will exchange information with other vehicles, devices and infrastructure around us. For example, cars may connect with traffic cameras at intersections, and trigger vehicles to slow down to improve the flow of traffic and reduce the risk of accidents. This type of connectivity will generate data on driving habits which both drivers and vehicles will learn from.
Looking to the future, road safety needs to be approached on multiple fronts to achieve positive and impactful outcomes. This includes driver education, technology, innovation, and enforcement. Not every solution will be the right fit for Australia, but the more we consider and test technology focused on driver behaviour, the more likely we are to further reduce road trauma and save lives.
Jules is a highly experienced sales executive with a consistent proven record in promoting innovative products into Enterprise, Transport & Logistics, Public Sector and Automotive industries. He has over 14 years in selling specialised technology solutions to Automotive, Enterprises and Telecommunications industries in Australia, New Zealand, Japan and across Asia. Jules is passionate about connected services that enhance mobility, convenience and safety for people on the move. Here he writes about industry trends in the mobility as a service space.
