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Under-Reporting of accidents caused by mobile phones is becoming a major issue, according to the police in the UK, with only a small percentage of accidents caused by mobile phone use being reported/discovered as such.*
Add that statement to research carried out by the RAC in the UK in 2016 and we start to see the real extent of the problem. In the latest study almost one third of drivers admitted to using a mobile phone when behind the wheel. This has shot up from the mere 8% who admitted to it just 2 years earlier in 2014.
MOBILE PHONE USE DETECTION
So we know that more people are using mobile phones while driving and for commercial fleet operators this is a major problem. Yet it's a problem they have traditionally been able to do little about!
But not anymore, thanks to ProVision's ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance System) technology, where one of the key features is detecting mobile phone use, whether texting/browsing or making calls while holding the device.
This article investigates how the mobile detection system works and the key benefits of implementing it in your fleet.
DRIVER-FACING CAMERA
The key to the mobile phone use detection element of the ProVision ADAS system is the driver-facing infra-red camera. This special camera is mounted in a specific point on the dash that gives it a full view of the driver's face and head, but does not impede their view of the road.
Infra-red is used because it creates a high-contrast image that is sent to main ADAS unit to process in real-time.
The camera has a very narrow view that focuses solely on the driver's face, with a little margin that allows for their head movement. This minimizes intrusion into their work space.
PROCESSING UNIT
The main processing unit scans the video feed and looks for 2 things:
- Can it see the eyes of the driver?
If not then the driver is not looking at the road ahead and may be focused on their phone. - Are either of the ears blocked by an object?
This would indicate that a phone or other device is being held up to the ear.
These 2 triggers cover both examples of phones causing accidents.
HOW IT WORKS
The ProVision ADAS System monitors the area to the sides of the face. If it detects any object in that location it begins a countdown. This is important to stop false-positives, such as the driver scratching his/her ear briefly.
Once the system detects the device in place for a prolonged period of time, it issues a warning message to the driver, as shown in the video below.
These warnings can play a big role in reducing accidents caused by phone use. However, the most interesting aspect for fleet managers is the ability to receive alerts when the phone use warning is triggered. This is enabled when the ADAS system is installed in conjunction with the ProVision Vehicle Camera system.
Additionally, the mobile phone use is also recorded along with the camera footage. This means there is a visual record that can confirm the alert. It also allows the fleet manager to monitor drivers' performance in real-time and take appropriate action, which may include training or similar actions.
So, say goodbye to driver-fault related accidents caused by mobile phone use...
If you want to see these types of accidents become a thing of the past in your fleet, check out our ProVision ADAS page or get in contact and we can give you more information.
* Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/11/23/under-reporting-mobile-phone-related-car-accidents-massive-problem/
