Managing risk with telematics

BBFS has partnered with Masternaut to fit telemetry systems to vehicles, particularly commercial vehicles.

The technology measures real-time driver performance, including braking and acceleration, fuel economy and speeding.

It has also resulted in businesses rewarding drivers through competitions such as driver of the week or driver of the month.

“Telematics has had a very positive impact on the way people drive, how they look after their vehicles, fuel use and general attitude,” says Lindsay.

“The ability to monitor has meant negative behaviour can be addressed before it gets serious and incidents are mitigated, damage and misuse costs reduced and fuel use lowered.”

He says that fits with BBFS’s overall strategy, which focuses on a vehicle’s wholelife cost.

“Some of the biggest savings have come from fuel economy improvements,” he adds.

“Driving economically is a positive behavioural change and goes hand-in-hand with safety. Encouraging drivers to improve their mpg is a powerful tool in unlocking the door that delivers road safety.

“There is undoubtedly a return on investment. We started with the driver risk management programme five years ago and it is continually evolving.

Telematics has been the most recent development and early indications are a net fuel saving of up to £46 per vehicle per month.”

Drivers across the group are continually reminded of the requirement for safe driving through a range of channels, updates on key issues and incentive schemes.

“Driver feedback and evaluation is a massive part of what we do, but word of mouth is the most significant factor. Once drivers have had a few minutes with the trainers, they realise the risk management programme is designed to help them.

As that disseminates through the workforce, more people want to be involved,” says Lindsay.

Protecting corporate reputation

Reputation and corporate image are also critical for the highly-visible Balfour Beatty Group with its liveried vans.

“Corporate social responsibility, including in the area of driver risk management and sustainability, is an important part of any tender process.

"The ability to show a good record in those areas is important in winning new business, which is a great by-product on top of the clear health and safety benefits of effective driver risk management,” says Lindsay.

Looking to the future, BBFS is enhancing its telematics to obtain more vehicle and driver data, is looking to offer its driver risk management programme to Balfour Beatty companies overseas, and is introducing a ‘permit to drive’ scheme across its sub-contractor base.