• ADAS data is best used as a one-on-one coaching tool for the driver, rather than a disciplinary tool.
• Blatant disregard of known safety policies and “bad” ADAS data, however, must result in driver discipline as an attorney for an injured person will have access to, and exploit, the driver’s “bad” data during post-crash litigation.
• Companies should take steps to ensure that reliance on ADAS and other electronic safety technology does not result in driver complacency or a loss of defensive driving skills.

After choosing specific advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) for its fleet, the company must decide:

• How to use the systems correctly
• How to deal with incidents
• When to discipline a driver
• How to act on the data
• When does too much reliance on data make the driver unsafe?

Using the systems correctly

One issue that many carriers grapple with is what to do with the data. The goal with any of these systems should be to improve the driver by using the data as a one-on-one coaching tool. Therefore, the goal should be to get to the data that is showing the safety problems (bad behaviors). If time is spent looking at all the data, and not just the “bad” data or “exceptions,” a safety officer can literally drown.

Dealing with incidents

Whenever a behavior has led to a “bad” data capture, the key is to quickly coach the driver. The discussion should involve what the driver did wrong, as well as what the driver should have done in that situation.

One carrier that uses these systems effectively has the driver explain what led to the incident, review the defensive driving materials related to that type of incident, and then explain what must be done next time that situation (or anything similar) occurs. In short, the driver develops the correction plan. The company then just monitors the data to make sure it does not happen again.

The key is to avoid using the data as a disciplinary tool, except when it is necessary. If drivers view the system as a “gotcha” tool, cooperation will be hindered.

When is it necessary to discipline a driver?

When the data (electronic or video) shows that a driver blatantly disregarded a known safety policy that has severe consequences attached to it the driver must be disciplined.

Examples of this would be not using the seatbelt, using a cell phone while driving, texting while driving, somehow disabling the safety system (such as covering the camera or disconnecting the electronic log), lying about the situation related to an incident in the data, or operating too fast for conditions in certain circumstances.

Also, drivers that are “repeat offenders” will eventually need to be disciplined.

If you have it, use it!

A word of warning here: Act on the data. The only thing worse than not having information, is to have the information and not use it. Failure to act on data that is pointing out problemed drivers, will automatically be questioned after a crash (by the plaintiff’s attorneys). Specifically, why nothing was done about an unsafe driver that the company knew or should have known about. If these systems are used, they must be used to correct unperforming drivers.

Does too much reliance on technology make a driver unsafe?

Many newer model vehicles have an option to add collision avoidance technology, such as:

• Blind spot monitoring
• Backup cameras
• Lane departure alerts
• Automatic braking
• Adaptive cruise control

Drivers in vehicles that are equipped with these ADAS alerts may become reliant to the point that defensive driving skills deteriorate.

The company must guard against drivers becoming complacent with defensive driving skills and too reliant on technology in situations that require active response or use of mirror scans. Drivers that switch from an ADAS-equipped vehicle to one without ADAS, if complacent, will have to go back to total reliance on defensive driving skills. The company must make sure the drivers remember and use those skills.

Also, ADAS are not perfect. Recent research by AAA found active driving assistance systems often malfunctioned, including:

• Disengaging without any warning, handing back the controls of the vehicle to the driver; and
• Failing to keep the vehicle in the lane and away from other vehicles and guard rails.

Although these technologies are great, through recurring training, it might be wise to remind drivers to also check blind spots, pay attention to lane position, and watch traffic on all sides of the vehicle. These basic defensive driving skills should never be replaced by the bells and whistles of today’s vehicles.