The technology has recently expanded throughout the United Kingdom where it has been taken up by bus and coach operators as a tool to combat risk on the roads.
David Quayle, Managing Director of FleetSafe is keen to see Australian transport organisations take advantage of the many benefits Greenroad offers. "The system is proven to cut risky driving by half," he said. "This success stems from Greenroad's unique ability to enable drivers to monitor themselves, so it becomes empowering to these drivers. It also offers managers the chance to recognise and reward their safest drivers and depots."
Greenroad combines in-vehicle technology with web applications to provide feedback to drivers and reduce the risk of having a collision. An accelerometer and other sensors are fitted to the vehicle to detect braking, acceleration, lane changing, passing, cornering, swerving, speed and more. A simple 'green, yellow, red' LED display alerts the driver of their safety status in real-time.
"Greenroad is highly accurate while at the same time it is a very simple system for the end user," said Mr Quayle. "This is significant for bus operators as it means the technology does not add to the already high number of complex tasks a bus driver has to undertake while behind the wheel."
The system reports back to managers by way of web-based profiles which can be used to monitor specific journeys, individual drivers and provide overviews of depots and fleets. This enables fleet managers to see which drivers pose the highest risk as well as highlighting operational issues that would otherwise go unnoticed, such as increased risk on sections of roads or usual routes.
Mr Quayle points out that Greenroad has been adapted specifically for bus and coach driving. "Driving a bus is very different to driving a car. For this reason, the technology has been adapted to apply to the bus industry through the development of a separate algorithm for driving a bus. This is why we have chosen the Melbourne Bus Expo for the Australian launch of the system. The bus industry has always been proactive in investigating new opportunities to improve safety, so I am confident there will be a lot of interest in Greenroad from bus operators at the conference."
The Annual Bus Conference and Expo draws together over 1000 delegates each year and is attended by suppliers, bus and coach operators,
Government representatives and media from both Australia and overseas. The extensive conference program covers the most relevant issues affecting the bus and coach industry today. Speakers will present on a wide range of topics including reducing fuel consumption, the vehicle of 2020, hydrogen fuel cells, hybrids, driver training, maintenance and depot safety, driving hours and climate change. The conference also has a number of practical workshops covering a variety of hands-on demonstrations.
FleetSafe is exhibiting at stand number 32, where Greenroad will join FleetSafe's extensive range of driver and vehicle safety solutions. Other products on offer by FleetSafe include video based event recorders, trailer reversing cameras, wireless cctv systems, electronic tyre inspection tools, RFID tyre tracking and fuel management systems. The solutions have been embraced by both bus operators and manufacturers in Australia and overseas and include names such as Ventura, Veolia Transportation, Classic Coaches, Scania, Volvo, Bridgestone, Goodyear and Michelin.
Bus Expo 2008 will be held on the 7th and 8th of July at the Moonee Valley Racing Club Conference Centre in Melbourne. For more information visit www.busvic.asn.au . All delegates must be registered to attend.
