SmartDrive Systems Selected by UK’s Transport Research Laboratory to Help Commercial Vehicles Benefit from Landmark Naturalistic Driving Study

San Diego, CA – 9 April, 2013 –SmartDrive Systems, global leader in driving performance solutions in the U.K, addressing distracted and inattentive driving, announced today that the United Kingdom’s Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) selected SmartDrive Systems for its unique performance analytics for TRL’s study into naturalistic driving behaviors.

SmartDrive has compiled the world’s largest storehouse of over 60 million recorded and analysed risky driving events. Driving and vehicle data is obtained from SmartDrive’s industry-leading onboard video event recording system, which captures triggered events as well as vehicle information from motion detection sensors, auto safety systems and the engine control unit. SmartDrive then applies a 70+ point quality-controlled analysis conducted by highly trained safety analysts. Individual events are scored based on specific observations, incorporating unique rules and analytics specifically for U.S., U.K. and European driving regulations established since 2007. This unique approach has propelled SmartDrive into the position of a leading provider of driving intelligence and performance analytics, helping research organizations, such as TRL, incorporate and analyse accurate, objective dataset of actual driving behavior of commercial vehicles.

“Technology more than ever enables us to keep connected whilst on the move,” said study director Dr. Nick Reed, principal human factors researcher and Senior Academy Fellow at TRL. “To gain novel insights into the effect of possible distractions such as mobile phones on naturalistic driving behavior, TRL employed SmartDrive for its world-class analytics platform of real-world driving experiences. The comprehensiveness of their platform is critical to understanding the root causes of unsafe driving and collisions and affords us a unique opportunity to study the impact of certain behaviors on near collisions to collisions.”

The TRL naturalistic driving study looks at behavioural observations associated with thousands of recorded safety critical driving events by various vehicle types. The study includes distracted driving observations such as hands-free versus hands held mobile phone usage, which can involve texting as well as talking. TRL anticipates measuring the effects of distracted driving behaviour particularly mobile phone usage on road safety across public and commercial vehicles, evaluating percentage of drivers who impact the riskiest driving behaviours and potentially collisions.

“With 80 years of experience, TRL is clearly at the leading edge of transport research globally, generating and applying science, knowledge and understanding to develop innovative solutions and software,” noted SmartDrive U.K. GM Ian Riddell. “SmartDrive is proud to partner with TRL to provide the foundational analysis for this important study into driving behavior.”

Findings from the study will be presented at the 3rd International Conference on Driver Distraction and Inattention to be held September 4-6, 2013, in Gothenburg, Sweden.

About TRL

TRL, based in Crowthorne, Berkshire, is the UK’s leading transport research laboratory. Commercially independent, it is recognised internationally for providing consultancy, research, advice and solutions on a wide range of transport issues, and has many world renowned experts in their field.

Key areas of work for TRL include transport infrastructure, road, network and vehicle safety, traffic management, planning and control, investigations and risk management, human behavior, rail, climate change, and security. Facilities include a self-contained road network, 3.8 km test track, DigiSim – driving simulator center, structures hall, pavement, and impact test facilities.

About SmartDrive Systems

SmartDrive Systems gives fleets and drivers unprecedented driving performance insight and analysis, helping save fuel, expenses and lives. Its video analysis, predictive analytics and personalized performance program help fleets improve driving skills, lower operating costs and deliver significant ROI. With an easy-to-use managed service, fleets and drivers can access and self-manage driving performance anytime, anywhere. The company has compiled the world’s largest storehouse of more than 60 million analyzed risky-driving events and serves top commercial fleets in the U.K. such as Ocado and Reynold’s. SmartDrive Systems is based in San Diego, CA, Hertfordshire, U.K., and employs over 400 people worldwide.

Follow SmartDrive on:

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LinkedIn –http://www.linkedin.com/company/smartdrive-systems

Media Contact:

Jim White, Media Relations
(619) 955-6430

• Posted by Eduardo Valencia
• On 9 April 2013