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| Heavy metal on screen - telematics to assist enforcement of HGV maintenance.
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16/8/04 |
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A major new trial, due to begin later this year in the UK will make extensive use of telematics to monitor the roadworthiness of heavy goods vehicles and improve road safety.
Led by the banking group HBOS and including VOSA (Vehicle and Operator Services Agency) and Recall Support Services, the 2,000 vehicle trial will use black box technology to electronically interrogate the condition of HGVs (Heavy Goods Vehicles) and transmit 'exception' data via a radio link to a central control room.
"The presence of a telematic device linked to various functions in the vehicle," said Graham Martin, VOSA's Communications and Research Officer, "means that we will be able to monitor aspects of the mechanical roadworthiness of a vehicle remotely."
The two year trial will initially be limited to vehicles under two years old with those taking usually being polled once a month for specific data. Any 'exception' data will be transmitted immediately via a GPRS (General Packet Radio System) or GSM (Global System for Mobile communications) link to the HBOS control room. From there the information will be passed to relevant parties for action.
"What is holding us up at the moment," said Martin, "is the question of exactly what data should be made available to us. Manufacturers are cautious about sharing some information with us. We are interested in the mechanical condition of the vehicle, including its brakes and the ISO 7638 lead from the trailer to the drawing unit. Both of these have been the cause of fatal accidents in the past. In any future trials we may, with the driver's agreement, obtain access to drivers' hours and vehicle weight data as well."
Amongst the functionalities incorporated within the telematics device are a fleet management facility and an accident data recorder function.
"Finding a supplier who was able to provide us with everything we wanted was difficult," said an HBOS source close to the project. "We started with 5 Tier-One suppliers which was expanded to 14 other suppliers who believed they could meet the specification. This has now been whittled down to two suppliers. Work on fitting the devices to the new vehicles began in mid-August and we should be in a position to start the trial towards the end of this year. Fleet operators were keen for us to include a fleet management capability and VOSA - who in some areas have taken over from the police the role of vehicle examiners in fatal accident investigations involving HGVs, wanted the accident data to be included. The device we will be using records the 30 seconds prior to a collision and a few seconds afterwards."
While no decision will be made on expanding the initiative until the end of the trial, insiders have been keen to stress the commercial and road safety benefits of the new system, pointing out that early electronic intervention is likely to lead to a more efficient maintenance programme and the existence of a safer fleet.
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Further information, contact:
Graham Martin, Communications and Research Officer, VOSA. E-mail: graham.martin@vosa.gov.uk |
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