How technology can help you handle holiday season traffic
Learn how to use technology to reduce risk when facing increased holiday season traffic.
If you have been a fleet manager for some time, you surely know that November and December are particularly challenging. The hustle and bustle of the holiday season, the increased number of orders, and the resulting increase in road traffic are a challenge for even the most experienced fleets.
Undoubtedly, driving training is essential to help drivers deal with seasonal challenges. Yet technology can also be an important ally, especially if you are in the last-mile delivery business.
How technology can help you handle holiday season traffic
Integrating advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) is increasingly common in fleets as they help drivers deal with the challenges that come with daily traffic intensification. Other driver assistance technologies, such as collision mitigation and electronic stability control, are also used with excellent results. It is, therefore, critical to prepare and educate your drivers about what these systems do, how they work, and what support they provide on the road if they are to be successfully implemented.
In addition to integrating driver assistance technologies into your fleet vehicles, such as blind spot information systems, rear-cross traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, or even lane-keeping and lane centering, you also need to ensure the effectiveness of the vehicles' brakes. Air disc brakes can be a good option as they enable a shorter stopping distance and smoother, straighter, and more stable stops. When the time comes to replace brake pads or shoes, replacing them with the same original equipment manufacturer (OEM) is recommended. Moreover, proper inspection and maintenance are also crucial to ensuring compliance and the best performance of your fleet vehicles in challenging seasonal periods.
To conclude, the holiday season traffic presents challenges for all fleets, and a good strategy might be combining technology with proper driver training. It will allow you to avoid severe problems during peak traffic and ensure the best performance of your fleet and drivers. Nothing can replace an experienced and alert driver who adopts safe and defensive driving techniques.
Source:
Automotive Fleet