In-cab speed warnings: Guide for fleet safety managers

Why should speeding be a top priority for fleet safety managers?

Speeding is proven to be a high-risk behavior—especially for commercial (CDL) drivers who may be operating heavy duty vehicles, carrying hazardous waste, or transporting passengers. Coaching CDL drivers on the risks of excessive speed is very important for preventing accidents, reducing costs, and protecting your fleet.

Here are three reasons why reducing speeding should be a top priority for fleet safety managers:

1. Speeding increases the likelihood of an accident: Perhaps the most severe consequence of driving faster than the posted speed limit is the increased likelihood of an accident, injury, or fatality. A study presented at the University of California, Berkeley found that for every 1% increase in speed, the probability of an accident increases by 2%, the probability of serious injury increases by 3%, and the probability of a fatality increases by about 4%. In addition, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that speeding contributes to about 30% of deaths on the road in the United States. Speeding can be especially deadly in work zones. In fact, work zone fatalities have increased 63% since 2010, due in part to drivers ignoring speed limit signs in these busy areas.

2. Speeding is a leading indicator of other unsafe driving behaviors: Many studies have shown that speeding is correlated with other risky driving behaviors, like distracted driving and tailgating. In fact, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) found that motorists who speed have higher rates of other driving errors.

3. Speeding decreases fuel efficiency and drives up costs: Not only does speeding increase the likelihood of an accident—it also impacts your business’ bottom line. Gas mileage decreases rapidly at speeds above 50 MPH, and each 5 mph driven over 50 mph is like paying an additional $0.27 per gallon for gas.

What are in-cab speed warnings?

An in-cab speed warning is an alert that sounds when a vehicle’s speed is above the posted speed limit or a predetermined maximum speed. Essentially, in-cab speed warnings (or in-cab speeding alerts) let the driver know when they are speeding, so that they can reduce their driving speed to an appropriate level.

In-cab speed warnings are a popular and effective safety tool for commercial fleets, especially since they can be introduced as part of an aftermarket video telematics solution. This makes it possible to provide in-cab speed warnings to CDL drivers without investing in new fleet vehicles that have a built-in speed warning system.

How do in-cab speed warnings work?

Some new commercial and non-commercial vehicles have built-in speed warning systems. However, most commercial fleets rely on an aftermarket video telematics solution to provide in-cab speed warnings. These solutions are incredibly effective. In fact, a recent Frost & Sullivan report found that video telematics solutions reduce speeding by 65%.

For example, maximum speed alerts allow fleet managers to specify a high speed drivers should never exceed (like 70 MPH, for example). If a driver ever exceeds this set speed, they are alerted to reduce their driving spee via a voice alert. 

What are the benefits of in-cab speed warnings for fleets?

In-cab speed warnings are an extremely effective way to reduce speeding and prevent accidents. Here are just a few of the benefits of in-cab speed warnings for fleets:

• Correct speeding in real time: In-cab speed warnings make it possible to alert drivers to potentially dangerous behavior in real time—and reduce driving speed—without needing to be in the cab with the driver.

• Coach drivers effectively at scale: If you have dozens, hundreds, or even thousands of drivers, personalized coaching can be a challenge. In-cab speed warnings allow you to simultaneously coach all of your drivers based on their own driving behavior in real time, which is much more effective than standard safety training videos with actors. Furthermore, real-time behavior change leads to scalable coaching, since safety managers are not spending time coaching after an event.

• Reduce accident risk and associated costs: For every 1% increase in speed, the probability of an accident increases by 2%. By reducing speeding, you can reduce accident risk across your fleet, decreasing the likelihood of expensive repairs, payouts, legal settlements, or additional insurance costs.

• Save money on fuel: Although increased safety is the main benefit of in-cab speed warnings, they can also deliver significant cost savings. Drivers who speed have a highway MPG that is 2.7% lower than other drivers. By reducing speeding with in-cab speed warnings, you can reduce fuel costs.

How else can fleet managers reduce speeding and improve driver safety?

A recent Frost & Sullivan report found that safety was the number one priority for 36% of fleet managers, with reducing driver distraction a top concern. Furthermore, they found that accidents involving fatalities cost fleets $10.8 million on average. 

In-cab speed warnings are an incredibly effective way to reduce speeding and minimize accident risk across your fleet. However, in-cab speed warnings are most effective as part of a holistic fleet safety program. That’s why it’s so important to choose a video telematics partner like Samsara that can help you address other areas of driver safety, too—including harsh braking and acceleration, distracted driving, tailgating, and more. A multi-function safety solution like Samsara can deliver significant ROI in terms of lower CSA scores, fewer accidents, and reduced costs.

Take the Rasmussen Group, a leader in construction and heavy equipment operations, for example. Rasmussen often delivers materials to hazardous construction sites, navigating rough terrain, hilly areas, and tight residential spaces. Drivers must adapt to different situations daily, which can be risky. Promoting safe driving practices, such as coming to a full stop at intersections, maintaining appropriate following distances, and minimizing harsh turns, is pivotal to ensure timely and efficient service.

Rasmussen deployed Samsara AI Dash Cams to develop a comprehensive safety program, improving safety with in-cab alerts and exonerating drivers with on-demand video retrieval, enabling them to reduce speeding and running stop signs by 70%. Furthermore, Rasmussen is now easily able to exonerate not-at-fault drivers; after a recent incident, they were able to exonerate a driver at the scene, saving an estimated $1.2 million.

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Make safety a competitive advantage with Samsara

By integrating AI Dash Cams, telematics, and cloud-based software, Samsara’s Video-Based Safety solution helps fleets make measurable safety improvements and provides ROI in the moments that matter.

Samsara offers preventative in-cab alerts to coach and adjust driver behavior in real time. Plus, customizable reports make it possible to effectively coach against speeding, reduce accidents, and boost fuel efficiency.

To learn more about how Samsara can help your business make safety a competitive advantage, check out our Video-Based Safety platform and speak with our team today.