How driver safety cameras are supporting
bus and coach drivers
Drivers of buses and coaches have a highly responsible job requiring maximum concentration. Keeping passengers safe and ensuring vehicles continue to operate seamlessly are integral to their duties, so supporting bus and coach drivers is essential. Here, Brigade looks at how driver safety cameras are enhancing journeys and explains why they’re so important.
Across Europe, the protection of drivers, passengers and other road users is a top priority for public service vehicle fleet operators, and enhanced safety solutions are an invaluable component for all buses and coaches.
However, a recent survey by Geotab – ‘The Unseen Toll: Driver Stress and Road Safety’ has drawn attention to the issue of road safety with some statistics from commercial drivers which need to be addressed.
The survey highlights the fact that 97% of drivers in the Netherlands, 96% in France, 95% in Italy and 94% in Germany believe that safety issues should be attended to more consistently across the EU, and that steps should be taken to tackle unsafe habits when behind the wheel. The use of mobile phones when driving was of particular concern.
According to a study undertaken by French organisations GART (Association of Transport Authorities) and UTPF (Union of Public and Rail Transport), 81% of Europeans use public transport for day-to-day travel; it’s an important component in the EU’s economic strategy. Although bus and coach incidents have fallen within the EU, improvements can still be made; in 2023, 5 people died in France, 16 in Germany, 8 in Poland and 28 in Italy.
With a global shortage of qualified drivers, those who are stretched thinly on public transport rosters can worry about fatigue affecting their driving performance. The Geotab survey shows that 70% of respondents believe stress is contributing to a reduction in road safety and 91% say that it is negatively affecting their driving. This can lead to high turnover rates at a time when retention of drivers is an important consideration for fleet operators.
Bus and coach drivers have a great responsibility for the passengers they transport and want to feel confident and focused while driving. Tellingly, the survey points out that 69% of respondents support the idea of new technologies which could help improve driving performance and vehicle safety.
The selection of AI cameras coming onto the market in recent years is proving to be a game-changer for vehicle safety solutions, and one of these is Brigade’s Driver Safety Camera - an in-cab system which offers drivers a reliable and trustworthy means of promoting responsible and vigilant driving.
Driver safety cameras, also known as fatigue detection systems, aim to improve safety by tracking signs of driver fatigue or inattention and notifying the driver when they occur. They work by using sensors positioned near the steering wheel to monitor signs of tiredness and prevent the possibility of falling asleep at the wheel. The driver’s eyelids and head positioning are scrutinised for unusual drooping, yawning or nodding, and systems can also detect changes in posture such as slouching in the seat and the frequency of blinking. In addition, erratic steering behaviour, mobile phone use, not wearing a seatbelt and vehicle positioning can also lead to a signal to the driver. There is also the option of notifying the fleet manager at the same time.
The installation of driver safety cameras is a solution which conscientious fleet operators are enthusiastically prioritising. There has been some debate about privacy; the cameras capture continuous footage of the driver’s face, upper body and the cab behind. However, as a worldwide leader in commercial vehicle safety solutions, Brigade is keen to emphasise the benefits of driver safety cameras and reassure drivers that the intention is to support them and keep them, as well as their passengers and other road users, safe.
For example, the cameras help drivers become more aware of their driving habits and make positive changes to improve safety. They can therefore be useful tools for driver training and development and help improve overall fleet safety and effectiveness. Driver safety cameras are just as likely to prove a driver’s diligence and reliability as they are to flag up issues. Good drivers are more likely to receive recognition for their driving.
Regulation (EU), 2019/2144 states that it’s mandatory for all newly manufactured and existing vehicle models to be fitted with additional safety systems as part of the General Safety Regulation (GSR).Brigade’s Driver Safety Camera is fully compliant with this regulation and has a full HD, 88° field of view driver facing camera, SD card storage options including 32GB and 64GB and compatibility with Geotab Go.
Guillaume Amigues, Regional Director at Brigade, said:
“Supporting drivers so that they can continue to operate with confidence is integral to maintaining safety across the board and ensuring bus and coach journeys remain uninterrupted. It is encouraging to see from this report that drivers are keen to utilise technology to ensure they can continue to work to the very highest standards without compromising on road safety. We are pleased that our Driver Safety Camera is the link between the two.”
Brigade’s mission since 1976 has been to save lives, and all products are rigorously tested to enable bus and coach drivers to keep passengers safe and make their journeys with confidence.
ENDS
