Last February, the small seaside town of Hopeman, Scotland, became instantly famous due to a safety matter, and primarily because of how local residents chose to address the dangerous issue. Speeding and aggressive driving are a real problem: even though the main road (the B9040 passes right through the village) has a 30 mph speed limit, cars regularly hit speeds of up to 60 miles per hour. That's why the townspeople decided enough was enough and to take measures into their own hands.
That February, inhabitants including parents, children, and even local councillor Dennis Slater, went out dressed in fluorescent jackets in a bid to reduce motorists speeding through town. They even brought hairdryers and pointed them at cars as if they were police officers deploying speed guns.
Photo Credit: ©BBC, source http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-39063797
Residents are railing against the recklessness of fast drivers; the situation is particularly alarming as the speed of the cars can very easily cause serious injury or even death. Things are so bad that parents, fearing for their children’s safety, have installed ladders against walls to provide their schoolkids a safe passage between gardens instead of letting them cross the dangerous road.
This “desperate strike” is supposed to bring attention to the matter and slow the traffic down. “We are working closely with the police and the local authority to achieve our goal,” declared Councillor Dennis Slater. However, even if the police are aware of the situation, warnings and fixed penalties seem to be the only really effective way to prevent motorists speeding.
According to the Department of Transport of Great Britain, in a statistical report on road casualties, fatal accidents on minor roads increased by 3% on roads with a speed limit of up to and including 40 mph in September 2016.
Even though road safety is a priority for councils and towns, it is also the main priority for fleet managers! If you are a fleet manager, you probably trust your employees; nevertheless, some of your drivers may be exceeding the speed limit and you might not even suspect it. In that case, have you ever considered investing in a fleet management system?
This type of custom software is an excellent means to monitor your fleet’s driving style and keep track of itineraries completed and distances covered. If you want to manage driving style, fleet management software is the solution: speeding, idling, harsh braking, all the valuable data is provided by the software. Moreover, speeding is not only a threat to safety but also to finances due to the related problems and costs associated with any collision such as vehicle reparation, vehicle replacement, staff replacement etc., notwithstanding all the additional costs of speeding fines, increased wear and tear and fuel consumption, insurance premium hikes, just to mention a few.
Thanks to our software SynX, you can monitor driver behaviour, set up safety alerts and train drivers to practice safer and more responsible driving styles. Schedule a demo and see for yourself!
