Even though Britain has a good vehicle safety record compared to many countries, around five people still die each day on our roads. That statistic continues to challenge the automotive industry, lawmakers and auto ecosystems, rather than being accepted as part of the personal and financial cost of doing business.

For fleets and insurers, every step in accident reduction helps improve safety records, reduces costs and can save lives. There will never be a time when there are no accidents, but lessening their impact and minimising the number are all key goals.

Many efforts including those of insurers and fleet managers have helped, but the accident and death rates since 2010 have been broadly flat. The last recorded fall of 2% from 2018’s 1,784 fatalities to 1,752 in 2019  challenges all parties to drive additional reductions.

Pushing that number down further requires effort from all stakeholders. Insurers and fleet operators can do their part, along with road designers, vehicle manufacturers, governments and other parties. Insurers can act as an enabler, helping fleet managers and others with performance-based business fleet insurance that rewards drivers who are smarter and safer on the road, helping contribute to a better environment for all, both on the road and within the automotive ecosystem.

The additional benefit of this is that insurers are able to demonstrate how they are helping to reduce accidents. Fleet managers can show they provide a progressive, welcoming and safe environment for their drivers and other staff and assist in reducing costs. More safety-conscious drivers are a welcome addition to the workforce.

The rise in data-based insurance

Rideshur offers AI-based insurance for fleet vehicles, through strong use of data and analytics. Fleet risk managers can use it to ensure that good drivers see the rewards related to lower-risk behaviour. These include providing reduced premiums in-policy rather than post-policy, and incentives to encourage even better fleet driving and operations.

Rideshur leverages machine learning technology to provide context-based risk analysis and scoring, helping improve overall road safety. It surfaces real time driver-risk management to the fleet manager leveraging driver, vehicle and contextual data as well as other behavioural insights. These real-time insights can encourage drivers to adapt their behaviour to better or best practices.

Early data from these efforts suggests around a 65% reduction in accident rates thanks to the use of Rideshur, which, when employed widely could make the roads a much safer place.

Fleet managers will soon find AI-based insurance, with transparent pricing and live monitoring the norm, with the benefits for both companies and the end-users more visible. As that impacts and reduces the number of accidents, it will all be for the greater good, in time for a smarter generation of vehicles to help all drivers use the roads more safely.

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