Don’t let technology make you complacent

THE driver should still be in control of the vehicle, despite the technology at hand to help, argues Arval’s fleet and road safety manager, Tracey Scarr.

THE importance of driver safety technologies cannot be ignored.

Such technologies as ABS brakes, parking sensors and airbags are common on new vehicles and have had a positive impact on accident reduction.

Our own research has identified that use of technology aids such as parking sensors has led to a 25% reduction in reported incidents across the Arval fleet in the last two years. Nonetheless, drivers should not be lulled into a false sense of security when it comes to safe driving practice if they become too reliant on technology.

We welcome the continuing development of safety-driven vehicle technologies to assist drivers. From seat-belts through to crumple zones, airbags and now advanced driver assistance systems, the benefits are proven. However, technology is just one side of the coin and the driver must not get lazy, relying upon such assistance alone to keep them safe and accident free. It is imperative that good driving skills and habits continue to be promoted and encouraged and instances of bad driving highlighted and corrected.

In an area such as the reversing of vehicles, much can still to be done despite popular technology aids such as sensors that help the driver. According to a report from the University of Huddersfield, some 64 deaths occur each year in the UK as a direct result of reversing of vehicles.

In the case of Electronic Stability Control (ESC), a safety technology that we at Arval made mandatory on all our company cars in 2008, it is reported that this technology could reduce skidding accidents by up to 80%. At least 40% of fatal accidents are as a result of skidding: I would urge all business car managers to also make ESC a standard requirement for their company cars.