Fleets should push for faster adoption of anti-congestion technology, says CFC

The fleet industry should be pushing manufacturers and Government to accelerate availability of advanced road technology designed to beat congestion and improve efficiency, says CFC Solutions.

The fleet software specialist points to increasing convergence between a wide range of technologies surrounding smartphones, sat navs, onboard sensors and data loggers such as the ideas presented by the recent Team Hermes winners of the Microsoft Imagine Cup – as well as specific developments such as Volvo’s “car trains” of vehicles that are designed to make more efficient use of motorways.

Neville Briggs, managing director, said: “It is clearly in the interest of all fleets to back measures that will reduce the congestion affecting company cars, vans and trucks. Better use of vehicles in this way means everything from lower costs for operators through to reduced CO2 output.

“We are now at a point where there are all kinds of breaking technologies becoming available that could potentially have quite a dramatic effect on congestion. These range from very advanced ideas such as Volvo’s car train through to more accessible solutions such as in-cloud links between smartphones, telematics and data loggers.

“However, there needs to be debate and co-ordination at a national or even international level about which of these technologies should be adopted and how. Government, motor manufacturers and technology providers clearly have a role to play but the fleet industry should also have input into the discussion.”

Briggs pointed to the Automotive Council’s Summit on Intelligent Mobility, planned for April, as a potentially important first step.

He said: “The facts are that the fleet industry is likely to be at the leading edge of adopting any new technologes as well as the biggest user, and should aim to have a voice about which are adopted in addition to aiming for their rapid implementation.

“There is a strong argument that the industry should be starting to discuss how to make the best of these developments and working out which technologies it believes will provide the best balance of cost and benefit.”