How One Step GPS’s AI Dashcams Are Changing Fleet Safety
Historically, most incidents occurring to commercial vehicles have gone without proper coaching because no one was able to see them until it was too late. A driver slamming the brakes, failing to stop at a stop sign, or looking at their cell phone could go unnoticed and unreported until the aftermath, when it would be too late to make any changes. The information gathered from post-accident insurance reports or self-reported driver insights was never sufficient to create lasting changes.
Unlike traditional fleet safety monitoring programs, One Step GPS uses AI dashcams to actively correct unsafe behaviors in real-time, instead of only being able to identify them later on. These efforts are more relevant than ever, according to the 100-Car Naturalistic Driving Study conducted at the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute. The study found that, in most crashes and near-crashes, driver inattention was a factor for up to three seconds prior to the incident.
Real-Time Coaching Instead of Delayed Feedback
The design of the One Step GPS AI Dashcam solution is based on this finding: it can detect risky behaviors as they happen and deliver coaching in real-time, while also collecting evidence that will be needed for post-trip review and long-term driver training. There are a couple of key elements that are involved in the design of an ideal AI dashcam. These include the ability to record in-cab and on-road behavior simultaneously, real-time video analysis of driving behaviors, and immediate alerts sent to the driver.
While the post-trip video review process will still be relevant, One Step GPS places more emphasis on coaching at the very moment the unwanted driving behavior happens. In order to achieve these goals, the company launched an advanced AI dashcam system consisting of three main layers.
The Three Layers of the One Step GPS AI Dashcam
The first layer, called sensing, uses a combination of dual-facing HD cameras, GPS location tracking, and other vehicle sensors to gather footage. The front-facing HD camera captures behavior such as following distance, lane positioning, sudden deceleration, and stop adherence, while the other records in-cab actions, including distraction, drowsiness, and phone or other device usage.
The analysis layer is responsible for analyzing this video feed in real time using computer vision models. Instead of having a massive amount of data to manually look through, the system detects various types of risky behavior, including phone usage, distraction, tiredness, smoking in-cab, consumption of food or drinks, and aggressive driving actions.
The third and final layer is responsible for communicating the results of the previous step to both the driver and the fleet manager. Whenever a dangerous behavior is detected, the system alerts the driver through in-cab visual or audio alerts, creating the possibility of coaching the driver at the exact moment of risky behavior. The event is simultaneously logged, tagged with location details, and instantly uploaded to a fleet manager’s cloud dashboard, giving him access to a curated feed of short clips with video proof of each dangerous behavior and its context in terms of GPS location and speed.
The Benefits for Mid-Size Fleets
As far as small businesses go, mid-size fleets tend to manage 25 to 100 commercial vehicles and operate in many different industries. However, they share one thing in common: fleet managers are rarely on the road, meaning that there is a lack of coaching opportunities. That is why One Step GPS presents the possibility of integrating the AI dashcam system into these fleets as a means of improving their safety performance and achieving greater control.
Many industries benefit from implementing AI dashcams. Construction companies, for instance, deal with lots of heavy machinery that could be used improperly. In addition to that, logistics and field service businesses may need to be extra cautious of their drivers’ behaviors. All of these types of companies have higher levels of potential for risk and, therefore, stand to gain significantly from adopting the solution. It would help them avoid costly liabilities in situations involving insurance and disputes.
Other Benefits
Another important application of the system is claims defense. Continuous forward-looking footage accompanied by accurate GPS tracking can be invaluable when trying to prove innocence after a dispute occurs. Such evidence will also help the fleet owner make better insurance decisions regarding the incident.
Besides being an effective solution for identifying and alerting on risky behaviors, One Step GPS offers additional benefits compared to other similar solutions in the market. The most significant differentiator here is the fact that the AI dashcam system is subscription-based and doesn’t require the client to commit to lengthy term agreements. Instead, users can take advantage of its features month-by-month, allowing them to perform comprehensive tests of the solution without any fear of incurring significant costs.
Moreover, One Step GPS comes with a lifetime hardware warranty, allowing users to save even more in maintenance costs in the long run. Finally, the system features a 100-day money-back guarantee in case it doesn’t meet customers’ expectations. One Step GPS also provides US-based support services that will ensure a seamless implementation of the software and resolve any potential technical difficulties that the user might face along the way. The solution offers a comprehensive approach to fleet safety that goes beyond basic recording. Rather than functioning as a passive recording device, the dashcam integrates into a behavioral feedback loop where unsafe behaviors are identified, alerted on, and coached immediately.”