How Traffic Sensors and Cameras are Transforming City Streets
Authorities in the southeast of England are working with a subsidiary of infrastructure giant Ferrovial to trial sensors that will monitor and analyze traffic, in another sign of how tech is being used as a tool to inform decisions about how the towns and cities we live in function.
The sensors will be installed at a number of locations within the county, including the town center of Dover, a port and major transport and logistics hub which connects the U.K. to the European Union.
There, the sensors will be used to “monitor pedestrian, cycle, car, motorcycle, HGV and bus movements in and around the town of Dover, including the impacts of Brexit on port-related traffic.” As well as ensuring the smooth flow of traffic, technology is also being used to ensure drivers are following the law and using their vehicles in a safe manner.
Read the article at CNBC.
People Want Safer Cars Before They Drive Autonomous Ones
Autonomy is constantly presented as the future of the automotive industry with cars that can truly be termed “self-driving” as the goal. The average consumer wants the current systems on their cars to work more predictably before we start giving up control.
If you’re having trouble with your blind spot monitor working, for example, you’re going to be a lot less inclined to trust that every feature of your car will function smoothly without you behind the wheel.
This year’s AAA study found that a majority of people (80 percent) want automakers to be focusing predominantly on improving current safety systems before anything else. Only 22 percent of people felt that automakers should even be focusing on autonomous systems.
Read the article at MSN.
Amazon is Putting Cameras in its Delivery Vans and Some Drivers Aren’t Happy
Amazon announced this month that it has begun to roll out cameras inside its delivery vehicles that monitor both the road, and its drivers.
Road safety experts say Amazon's driver monitoring should bring safety benefits for the company and everyone it shares roads with. At the same time, drivers are bracing themselves for what happens when cameras can scrutinize their every move, delivering feedback that could impact their livelihoods.
Amazon spokesperson Deborah Bass told CNN Business that drivers could not lose their jobs for a single mistake, but declined to detail how Amazon recommends the partner companies that make its deliveries handle feedback, coaching and discipline. Amazon has said video footage from the cameras will only be sent to it in certain circumstances, including hard braking, hard acceleration and U-turns.
Read the article at CNN Business.
New Lytx Service Removes Burden of Meeting FMCSA Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse Requirements
Lytx, provider of fleet safety management solutions, recently launched its Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse Service.
The innovative program alleviates the burden required for fleets and carriers to conform with requirements of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's (FMCSA) Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse. The final rule, which went into effect January 6, 2020, require motor carriers to query the online database before hiring a driver and once per year for existing drivers.
"With no automated way to conduct Clearinghouse queries, fleets are struggling to manage this new and significant workload," said Rick Walters, senior director of Lytx Compliance Services.
Shell Announces Partnership with Spiffy to Offer Mobile Fleet Services
Shell Oil Products US announced a partnership with Spiffy, an on-demand car care, technology, and services company, to grant Shell Fleet Solutions customers access to mobile and fixed site fleet care services.
“We’re excited to demonstrate our commitment to continuous improvement by giving fleet managers another resource geared towards maintaining their fleets across the vehicles’ entire lifecycle,” said Rusty Barron, Vice President and General Manager of Shell Fleet Solutions, North America.
Building on its digital platform, which gives users access to all fleet maintenance data and a network of discounted maintenance providers, Shell Fleet Maintenance Hub customers can now schedule in-fleeting, preventative maintenance and de-fleeting services in select cities throughout the United States.
