Overcoming privacy hurdles in driver risk management

While they are important, they may also prove a hurdle when you introduce or extend a driver risk management program. Read on to learn some of the most common privacy considerations to address. As well, discover how to overcome challenges that might arise as you expand your driver risk management program geographically or extend to incorporate new features, including telematics.

See Also: 5 ways driver-centric fleet performance management can drive profitability 

Working towards global Vision Zero goals

Around the world, governments, councils and other organizations are striving towards a long-term vision of zero fatalities and serious injuries on the roads. Rolling out a comprehensive driver risk management program can help organizations align with this vision.

The benefits of driver risk management include:

• Helping provide and maintain a safe and healthy workplace
• Educating employees on potential hazards in the workplace
• Implementing and enforcing workplace health and safety policies
• Making a reasonable effort to protect against work-related injuries and illness, and correct unsafe actions and conditions

Discussing privacy concerns at the outset helps dismiss fears sooner and enables organizations to focus on their business objectives. It also helps them proactively manage a successful safe driving program that supports a much wider mission of safer roads for all.

Compliance with data protection and privacy laws

In many countries in Europe, Canada and parts of Australasia and Latin America, organizations must seek input and or approval from employee representatives such as Works Councils or Unions for the introduction and application of new operational processes, technical equipment and software. In others, seeking approval from the board, or addressing pushback from drivers can be stumbling blocks.

How does this affect companies looking to protect the safety of those driving for work purposes? It means that any company obliged to seek approval for a new driver safety program will need to 1) justify the implementation of the program, and 2) prove it complies with relevant data protection and privacy laws.

Considerations may include compliance with the:

• European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR),
• California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA)
• California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA)
• Canada’s Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA)
• the recently adopted Brazil General Data Protection Law (LGPD), or
• New Zealand Privacy Act

Privacy notices, HR agreements, data storage, how location data is used, and other such factors will be important discussion points.

Surveillance and tracking concerns

As many eDriving clients have rolled out our digital driver risk management program, Mentor, in multiple geographical locations, we’ve identified the most prevalent concerns in many different countries, and how to best help organizations address such concerns, not only with leadership and Works Councils, but also with drivers.

We’ve also discovered that the word “telematics” in particular, can sometimes trigger privacy alarm bells, and we’ve learned that addressing concerns about such programs from the outset is usually the most effective way to dismiss any fears.

See also: How cities are using telematics to achieve their Vision Zero safety objectives

Driver risk management programs benefit the safety of employees and the community

Any organization looking to introduce a driver risk management and safety program should not let privacy and data protection concerns stop them.

An effective driver safety program is there for the benefit of employees, their families and the communities in which they live and work, and is a means of managing road safety proactively. Similarly, no program should ever be intended as a surveillance tool, or as a means of introducing negative consequences for being part of the program.

About eDriving

eDriving’s Mentor program is a digital solution that collects and analyzes driver behaviors most predictive of crash risk and helps remediate risky behavior by providing engaging, interactive micro-training modules delivered directly to the driver in the smartphone app. As part of its broader risk management platform, Virtual Risk Manager®, eDriving provides organizations with everything they need to establish safety as a strategic imperative, and support drivers and managers as they strive to create a crash-free culture®.

eDriving is the driver risk management partner of choice for many of the world’s largest organizations, supporting over 1,000,000 drivers in 96 countries. Over the past 25 years, eDriving’s research-validated programs have been recognized with 100+ awards around the world. For more details, visit eDriving on the Marketplace and click Request Info.