How bus fleets can reduce risk with proactive driver feedback and coaching

For bus operators, ensuring the safety of their drivers and passengers is a critical obligation. And since the bus is the workplace for their drivers, it is also imperative that workplace stress be reduced. In this blog article, we examine the in-cab advanced safety solutions that can be utilised to provide drivers with instant coaching, support them to make better choices and keep calm in stressful situations, and reduce fleet risk.

The ramifications of a high-stress driving environment

Bus drivers are under pressure to adhere to route times and may make higher-risk decisions than they should to meet scheduled times. This increases stress levels, which in turn raises the likelihood of at-fault accidents, while reducing passenger comfort. Driver stress can be a cause of poor staff retention, and “driver churn” is a common resulting problem for city bus operators. 

The power of in-cab coaching 

Managers can use their telematics data to monitor and support their drivers, using customisable safety metrics to identify high-risk drivers who would benefit from additional contextual training. However, many bus operators are seeing the huge positive safety impact that can come from real-time driver coaching. Since a manager can’t sit behind every driver, this task can instead be completed via the telematics device or an AI-powered dash camera. 

Customisable, rules-based alerts 

Through Geotab’s fleet management platform, MyGeotab, safety managers can define their unique safety priorities and thresholds, customising the point at which a driver receives an alert or a manager receives a notification. The in-cab telematics device detects instances of excessive speeding, harsh acceleration, braking and cornering, and according to the established rules, alerts the driver when thresholds are exceeded. This customisation allows safety teams to, for example, set more stringent thresholds for speeding in 20mph (30kph) zones where the risk to pedestrians is greater. 

The alert encourages the driver to self-correct and mitigate the tendency toward an aggressive driving style, immediately lowering their risk profile and making drivers and passengers safer. 

AI-powered dash camera insights

Dash cameras with driver- and road-facing lenses support drivers by automatically detecting distracted driver behaviour, such as mobile phone usage, or dangerous driving incidents, including tailgating, in real-time. An instant alert is delivered to the driver, actively addressing the leading causes of preventable accidents. This live feedback loop empowers drivers to continually improve their driving style, protecting themselves, their passengers, and other road users.  

Gamification and driver engagement solutions

Gamification solutions can also incentivise and engage drivers to improve their driving style. Geotab Vitality is an all-in-one behaviour change platform that unites benchmarking, gamification and rewards to empower fleets to build a strong safety culture. Drivers can track their performance, compare results with peers, and earn rewards redeemable with trusted retailers, turning safe driving into a habit that benefits everyone. Brightmile and Fairfleet’s Eco App are Geotab Marketplace solutions that use gamification and instant visual feedback to influence driver behaviour and reduce stress in real-time. 

Geotab success story - DB Regio Bus AG

"Stress down, efficiency up" is the motto of DB Regio when it comes to driver management. The company introduced the Fairfleet Eco-App from the Geotab Marketplace to deliver immediate driver feedback. This allows them to see when they are driving in a stressed and hectic manner, so they can correct their behaviour. The app has been well-received by the drivers, reducing stress when driving. The company has noted many additional benefits, including reduced fuel costs, lower risk of accidents and increased passenger comfort. 

The co-benefits of in-cab driver training

Safety and sustainability are two sides of the same coin. When operators invest in driver feedback and coaching solutions to actively improve driver safety, they not only reduce the fleet risk profile, but also benefit from reduced fuel or energy consumption. For diesel bus fleets, this results in a decrease in public health-impacting emissions such as diesel particulates and nitrogen oxides, and climate-impacting greenhouse gases. For electric bus fleets, this extends range and reduces the power demand on depot charging infrastructure. 

For bus fleets operating in a competitive market where passenger comfort is a priority, a safer driving style delivers a more comfortable and pleasurable experience for your customers. And last but not least, these solutions have been proven to improve driver well-being, increasing retention levels and reducing recruitment and training costs.

Want to empower your drivers to take ownership of their safety performance? Get a demo today.