Trimble says it already has a deal in the pipeline to provide several thousand units of its new Driver Safety software, launched only last week.

It allows fleet managers to assess their drivers’ behaviour by scrutinising the thousands of manoeuvres and actions made during journeys at the touch of a button.

Meanwhile, drivers are given pointers on their safety performance in the vehicle via audible beeps and a series of warning lights coloured red, amber and green.

The telematics provider is remaining tight-lipped about who the deal is with at this stage, but told Fleet News a number of other fleets were also trialling the software.

“The feedback has been excellent,” said Timble’s managing director Andrew Yeoman. “Fleet managers have been surprised at what it’s revealed about their drivers. They had certain expectations about what it would show them, but in fact it’s been able to tell them a whole host of things they would never have considered.”

Driver Safety relays real-time safety information back to managers to see how well or poorly their vehicles and drivers are performing.

If a driver is travelling too fast, braking too harshly, accelerating quickly or even cornering too severely the system will warn the person at the wheel.

If the driver sees a green light, the vehicle is being handled within acceptable guidelines, whereas an amber light is interpreted as a warning and a red light alerts the driver to stop dangerous or unacceptable practices.

At the same time, it reports specific violations and averages driving events over distance and time to create a safety score.

This detailed breakdown of how vehicles are being handled can then enable fleet managers to make recommendations on how driver skills can be improved, while excellent driving skills can also be identified and rewarded.

“We see it as the electronic equivalent of the ‘how’s my driving?’ sign,” explained Yeoman.

However, while it provides a vital check on driving style, it has all the associated benefits of GPS technology ensuring that every journey made by a vehicle is cost effective and environmentally friendly.

In addition, Trimble claims it can have significant implications for fleet insurance, as reduced risks could mean lower premiums and reduced claims.

“Insurance companies like businesses which demonstrate accountability. Driver Safety is about being accountable,” said Yeoman.

The telematics provider says its new platform is applicable to commercial fleets large and small, as well as car fleets.

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