Use real-time monitoring tech to check lorry driver behaviour, says expert

KUALA LUMPUR: Using real-time monitoring technology on moving lorries can help reduce the risk of accidents caused by human factors, says a Universiti Teknologi Malaysia expert.

Automotive and transportation engineering expert Dr Mohd Azman Abas said it is crucial to track critical elements of drivers’ attitudes, behaviours, and physical condition in real-time to boost road safety.

Dr Mohd Azman said such a GPS tracking system must give fleet managers instant feedback on driving performance such as speed, brake patterns, and overall driving practices.

"With this data, fleet managers can immediately warn if drivers are speeding or driving dangerously,” said the university’s Automotive Development Centre (ADC) director.

"Some systems can also automatically intervene in vehicles, such as automatically limiting the vehicle's speed if unsafe driving behaviour is detected," he told Bernama.

He said such a proactive approach could help prevent accidents before they happen, rather than just enforcing the law or setting lower speed limits and expecting drivers to obey them.

Recently, several road accidents involving heavy vehicles, especially container trucks, resulting in deaths have been reported and most recently, an incident in which a container trailer overturned on the northbound North-South Expressway (Plus) near Simpang Renggam-Machap, Johor, which claimed the life of a motorcyclist.

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Based on data released by the Bukit Aman Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department on Friday, small trucks, trailers and container trucks are the highest contributors to accidents involving commercial vehicles from January to September as 168 cases were recorded.

Mohd Azman added that apart from drivers’ attitudes, their fatigue also contributed to accidents due to long periods of driving without rest.

"When they pursue a tight itinerary or try to increase their income by taking more trips, they experience fatigue which causes drivers to lose focus, be slow to react, and be prone to making mistakes when reacting to emergency situations.

"The absence of an assistant can also contribute to the risk of accidents because there is no assistant driver to monitor the road conditions, reduce the burden on the driver, as well as assist in the process of loading and tying up goods properly," he said.

Driving under the influence of drugs and other prohibited substances too can reduce cognitive ability and coordination, leading to risky decision-making on the road, Mohd Azman said.

He suggested that the authorities must also hold accountable the fleet operators and companies responsible for vehicle maintenance and driver management, rather than just going after the drivers and vehicles involved.

"Strict actions such as suspending operations, imposing summonses, and compounds against truck companies if their vehicles or drivers are involved in accidents are very important measures and need to be implemented immediately," he said.

He also called for the screening of qualified drivers, experience, good manners, having a valid licence, as well as having defensive driving training and an in-depth understanding of safe driving techniques are also important to ensure more prudent driving of vehicles.

Mohd Azman said screening measures with the involvement of the authorities should include background assessments of prospective drivers, including work records to ensure that they have clean and responsible driving records.

In addition to suspending drivers with bad traffic summonses records and often violating traffic laws, drivers with a history of reckless driving should also not be allowed to continue driving heavy vehicles.

"A record of repeated summonses can be an indication that the driver has the potential to make the same mistake, which could lead to a more serious accident and become a liability to the company or operator," he said.