Click to enlarge.Lytx today released new data showing driving speeds most associated with collisions or near-collisions.
Lytx data shows 20 percent of recorded collisions and 12 percent of recorded near-collisions in commercial fleets occur at speeds below 5 mph; on average, commercial drivers are involved in collisions 3.8 times more often at speeds below 5 mph than at any speed between 6 and 80 mph and, on average, there are twice as many near-collisions at speeds below 5 mph than at any speed between 6 and 80 mph.
These findings align with figures from the National Safety Council indicating more than 50,000 collisions occur in parking lots and garage structures annually — resulting in 500 or more fatalities and over 60,000 injuries, Lytx says.
Given the predominance and dangers associated with these collisions, Lytx says it is committed to ensuring its clients are able to detect vehicle ignition and speeds under 5 mph so they do not risk missing these critical incidents. With video at the core of the company’s telematics offering, Lytx reports on device health and captures events even if the vehicle is not in motion or is at speeds lower than 5 mph.
“The prevalence of collisions at lower speeds highlights how important it is for drivers to be vigilant about safety from the moment they first turn on the ignition,” says Del Lisk, Lytx vice president, safety services. “It is equally vital for fleet managers to know when their drivers are at the greatest risk of being involved in a collision, whether it’s while driving at parking lot speeds or on the highway.”
Jim Brady, Lytx vice president, product management, says, “Lytx is committed to helping our clients get the most out of their video telematics investment. We make video easy for customers to administer by offering a managed service, including a professional installation process and camera health monitoring to help make sure our customers are covered.”
Lytx’s data also showed the three top risky behaviors observed in events that occur under 5 mph: Improper mirror use was the top associated risky behavior followed by driver unbelted and handheld cell phone use. Lytx recently revealed that risky behaviors behind the wheel tend to cluster, meaning drivers who engage in one potentially risky behavior are often found engaging in others at the same time.
“Fleet managers must take a proactive approach to curbing risky behaviors behind the wheel to help reduce collisions at any speed,” Lisk says. “Many times, drivers become complacent and less vigilant when they are operating at a slow speed — they can pick up their phone or forget to check their mirrors. We’ve also found that if a driver is operating a vehicle while unbelted, they tend to be more careless or will engage in other potentially risky distractions, such as eating, drinking, smoking or using another device, intensifying the need for coaching and behavior change.”
Lytx says it examined driving data from January to June 2019 across its entire client database of public and private sector fleets. Its insights are derived from more than 100 billion miles of driving data from more than 1,000,000 drivers. Vehicles equipped with Lytx DriveCam Event Recorders cover two million miles every hour, resulting in Lytx’s insights into driving behaviors and risks, the company says.
