� LYTX : RISKY DRIVING BEHAVIORS COME IN ‘ CLUSTERS ’
Risky behaviors behind the wheel tend to cluster , meaning drivers who engage in one potentially risky behavior are often found engaging in other risky behaviors at the same time . That is one finding announced by Lytx , a provider of in-vehicle video systems for commercial and public sector fleets . In recognition of National Distracted Driving Awareness Month , Lytx released new information about commercial driving and distraction , based on analysis of data collected by its video telematics system . Among its findings :
While 65 % of all cell phone use was hands-free in 2018 , up from 27 % in 2016 , Lytx also found a 13 % increase in the overall volume of risky driving behavior involving handheld cell phones during the same timeframe .
Lytx found a 10 % increase in the overall volume of events in which drivers using hands-free devices engaged in one or more other potentially risky distractions as well , such as eating , drinking , smoking or using another device .
This combination of distractions magnifies risk , the company said . A multi-tasking driver engaged in multiple potentially risky distracting behaviors has a 100 % increase in risk over a driver engaged in one potentially risky , distracting behavior , Lytx said . Driver cell phone use occurs most frequently at 65 miles per hour mph , the company noted .
Lytx ’ s client database includes public and private fleets in the trucking , waste , transit , government , construction , field services industries , and more . The company said the 2018 data was anonymized , normalized and generalizable to drivers given the high volume of Lytx event recorders on domestic urban , residential and rural roadways .
The National Safety Council ’ s designation of April as Distracted Driving Awareness Month is an effort to recognize the dangers of distracted driving and eliminate preventable deaths associated with it . Every day , at least nine people die in distracted driving crashes , Lytx said , citing the latest available statistics published by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration . In commercial vehicle fleets , distraction related to cell phone use , eating or general inattention is the second leading driver-related cause of fatal truck crashes , according to the FMCSA statistics , Lytx said .
“ There are 6.1 million commercial motor vehicle drivers in the United States , and millions more around the world ,” Brandon Nixon , Lytx chairman and CEO , said in an April 30 news release announcing the company ’ s findings . “ We use our billions of miles of driving data to train artificial intelligence algorithms to detect risk , and we use our advanced data analytics to identify risky behaviors and help fleets do something about distracted driving .”
The scale of collected data , including more than 100 billion miles of driving data and 100,000 risky driving events captured by video every day , combined with the company ’ s machine vision and artificial
intelligence technology , enables Lytx to provide fleets with knowledge to help protect drivers and improve driving behavior . The company said its Driver Safety Program has been associated with reductions in collisions and related costs .
“ Identifying the underlying causes of risky behaviors and addressing the dangers of multi-tasking are crucial first steps to training safer drivers ,” said Del Lisk , vice president of safety services for Lytx . “ We recommend managers help their drivers understand the elevated risks around them , especially during peak times associated with distraction . Also , by advising drivers to make their calls or appointments before they start driving , managers can encourage them to avoid giving into these temptations .”
Lisk continued , “ One of our clients confidentially surveyed their drivers about their use of hand-held cell phones while driving . Through this survey , they discovered that more than half of all calls to their drivers were initiated by family members — the people who love them the most unknowingly potentially putting them in harm ’ s way . The company followed up with a program focused on educating families on the risks associated with calling their loved ones while they were driving . This is a great example of how looking for the underlying causes of risky behaviors can uncover important information . These lessons aren ’ t just for professional drivers .”
� REG TO OPEN ITS FIRST BIODIESEL FUELING STATION
REG is building its first biodiesel fueling station in Seneca , Illinois . The site is strategically positioned in close proximity to REG ’ s Seneca plant , which produces 60 million gallons of biodiesel per year , the company said .
“ It makes great sense to build our first fueling station in Seneca ,” said Jon Scharingson , REG ’ s executive director of sales and marketing . “ This facility brings in more than 17,000 trucks per year . Those trucks have to drive through town to get to the plant . To keep the community ’ s air clean , we are providing those drivers with a cleaner fuel option to put in the trucks .”
REG is building its first biodiesel fueling station near its biodiesel plant in Seneca , Illinois . Photo courtesy of REG .
16 JUNE 2019 | FUEL OIL NEWS | www . fueloilnews . com