Tango Networks BlogNew tech cuts distracted driving risk

We all do it, so it’s unreasonable to expect that your employees aren’t doing it as well. Pretty much everyone has used a mobile phone unsafely while driving at some point.

Carmakers are all scrambling to find ways to address the distracted driving risk. But mobile phone tools available today offer a more effective and timely solution for employers looking to reduce the risk of accidents by their drivers using mobile phones.

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Mobile Phone Distractions
According to a recent study, drivers use their phones during 88 out of 100 trips. The average driver used his phone about 3.5 minutes per one-hour trip. That figure becomes horrifying when considering that the chance of having an accident increases20 percent with only a two-second distraction.

Telling drivers not to use their devices doesn’t seem to work. So carmakers and mobile technology suppliers are coming up with a multitude of ways to address the problem.

Mazda has patented a technology that essentially would notice when a driver is distracted, and then distract him from the distractions.

Using a combination of cameras and user analysis, the Mazda model could increase the engine sound to encourage the driver to slow down. Or it could advise the driver on more engaging routes, or offer tips on bends in the road.

Mazda has said it believes a human driver is still the most important “computer” in a vehicle, but many other carmakers are on paths to take the human out of the equation.

Makers like Toyota are working on systems to override a driver about to make a mistake. Other semi-autonomous systems like Tesla and Cadillac require the driver to remain alert and attentive to take over in an emergency.

A Solution that Works Today

But these solutions are still on the drawing board or in early stages of roll-out. And even when attention-focusing and assisted driving technologies become the norm, companies will still need ways to enforce safer driving policies to comprehensively reduce risk.

That’s why our Responsible Driver System (RDS) is attracting so much attention in the industry. The system enables safer driving policies to be enforced by operators of fleets and transit systems, logistics, transport, field service companies, and others with commercial vehicles.

 IT staffs are given direct control over driver usage of mobile phone voice, text, and data communications, based on highly flexible policies.

Our patented technology embeds enforcement of policies in the wireless network itself and doesn’t allow the drivers to bypass the restrictions other than in cases of emergencies.

Companies can determine their own policies for vehicle speed, time of day, locations and other parameters, and incoming calls can be managed to a live support line or voicemail. Urgent calls can be retrieved once the vehicle is parked.

RDS helps save lives, gives fleet operators a powerful tool to emphasize and enforce safe operations, and limits liability, potentially leading to reduced insurance costs.

Tango’s Mobile-X  is the basis for our Responsible Driver System that enables companies to enforce responsible driving policies on their drivers.

Mobile-X from Tango Networks brings next-generation fixed mobile convergence technologies to communications for the distributed workforce. Now workers anywhere can have seamless corporate communications, supporting Mobile Unified Communications, mobile workforce communications, and programs for remote working, work from home, telecommuting and business continuity.