Accidents can be expensive and debilitating to an operation
The trucking industry is increasingly experiencing costly accidents and a proliferation of nuclear verdicts. A vehicle camera system could be the best line of defense.
A brief look at the different types of accidents that affect the trucking industry helps to illustrate why a 360-degree video telematics multi-channel camera system would be a worthwhile investment.
Types of accidents affecting commercial vehicles
Trucking-related accidents are 52% up in the US since 2009. 74% of all fatal passenger vehicle cases include a large truck, with 68% of truck fatalities being passenger vehicle occupants according to the latest data.
A study by the FMCSA found that the five most common types of truck accidents are:
Rear-end accidents (23.1% of truck accidents): Occurs when a driver fails to stop in time – resulting in their vehicle hitting the one ahead.
Ran off the road or veered into another lane (17.8%): Can be a result of – speeding, driver distraction, fatigue, or inexperience, and lack of training.
Sideswipe truck accidents (10.3%): Occur when drivers fail to properly check their blind spots before changing lanes or merging into traffic. Also caused by tire blowouts, road obstacles, inclement weather and/or when drivers become distracted or fatigued.
Rollover truck accidents (8.9%): Can be the result of poor driving or because of improper loading of unsecured or imbalanced cargo. The likelihood of this type of accident increases when the vehicle is going too fast around bends, or takes sharp turns, or when over-steering is occurring.
Trucks turning into oncoming traffic (8%): Failing to yield is the biggest factor leading to trucks turning into oncoming traffic.
The 360-degree video telematics multi-channel camera system prevents different types of accidents
Across these different types of accidents common denominators can be identified:
- Surround vehicle visibility
- Driver distraction and slow response time
- Poor driver behavior or bad habits
An advanced video telematics system can help address driver visibility, distraction, and coaching in any commercial fleet no matter what type of vehicles are deployed.
A 360-degree video telematics multi-channel camera system will eliminate blind spots on even the largest vehicles. A typical large vehicle configuration might comprise of a forward, side, rear, cargo, trailer, and driver-facing camera. An in-cab monitor empowers the driver with real-time, surround vehicle visibility.
Technologies such as proximity sensors for pedestrian detection, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and vehicle crash avoidance system prevent accidents by keeping the driver alert and focused on the road.
Reputable providers will be able to customize the camera setup and carry out an unobtrusive installation so as not to interrupt your operation.
