Royal Mail records the heavy-footed drivers
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by Patrick Hook • As part of the EC "Drive 2" initiative, which aims to harmonise Road safety standards across the BC, Royal Mail vehicles have been fitted with Journey Data Recorders (JDRs), which could lead to a substantial reduction in accidents. In a project being led by Dr Bill Fincham of Queen Mary's and Westfield College, London, 100 Royal Mail vans in the Bolton and Birmingham areas are being monitored by AVM VeMIS on-board computers which "bleep" if the driver exceeds pre-set speeds or brakes harshly.
A feasibility study conducted by the TRL elsewhere in the country showed a potential for a 38% reduction in accidents in vehicles fitted with similar equipment. The primary object of the project is to study the effect that the presence of the equipment has on driver behaviour. Stuart Brittain, Road Transport consultant for the Royal Mail said: "I would be surprised if we don't come up with a case for accident reductions. I don't quite honestly expect it to be as high as 38% but we may well see a reduction of about 10%. There is a well proven correlation between speed and accidents and drivers behave differently when they are being watched."
As well as the audible warning, the equipment constantly monitors the driving of the vehicle and can be programmed to record other aspects of the vehicle's use such as hard acceleration. The project is due to end in June when the TRL will analyse the results.