New report provides road map for fleets to roll out anti-speeding tech

A new Insurance Institute for Highway Safety study prepared by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Volpe Center provides a road map of best practices for fleet operators working to implement active intelligent speed assistance (ISA) in commercial vehicles.

Many fleets have long used speed governors that prevent their vehicles from exceeding an absolute maximum, such as 65 mph. Active ISA is more flexible. It uses road signs, GPS maps or a combination of both to determine the local speed limit and prevents the driver from accelerating beyond it. Most systems can also be configured to allow drivers to exceed the posted limit by a certain margin or percentage. 

For eight organizations that have deployed GPS-based versions of the technology across their vehicle fleets or in smaller pilot programs, the benefits have extended beyond reducing speeding violations, Volpe’s discussions with fleet managers showed.

“Speeding by commercial drivers is especially dangerous because they drive large, heavy vehicles,” IIHS President David Harkey said. “Active ISA addresses that danger and saves fleet operators money at the same time.”

The fleet managers interviewed for the report noted a decrease in aggressive driving generally, which contributed to a 30% reduction in preventable collisions for one carrier. Less speeding reduced wear and tear, leading to lower maintenance costs, and some fleets noted increases in fuel economy. In addition, fewer speeding violations contributed to improved Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA) scores. For one company, the CSA score, which increases with each violation, fell from about 65 to 20.

Others noted that ISA could help companies avoid high-profile incidents that can lead to lawsuits and negative publicity. Implementing ISA could also be a public relations asset, demonstrating a commitment to safety.

To identify the technical issues and challenges involved with deploying ISA in commercial fleets, researchers interviewed key personnel at eight fleets that had implemented or piloted active ISA and one fleet at the beginning of a rollout. These organizations included seven freight transporters operating heavy trucks and two bus fleets. Researchers also spoke with fleets that had implemented passive ISA, which only alerts drivers when they exceed the limit, and other stakeholders, such as technology providers and insurance firms.

The best practices that emerged from those interactions include several key strategies to ensure drivers accept the technology and aid in maximizing its impact.

• Before implementing, help leadership understand the potential benefits. At the outset, explain to corporate leaders how active ISA can help the company avoid risk and lower costs. It’s also important to document baseline metrics such as the fleet’s CSA score, the number and cost of physical damage claims, the frequency of speeding and collisions, and fuel burn rates. Such metrics can shed light on the benefits of active ISA after the rollout is complete.
• Show, don’t tell. Project leaders should give management and drivers opportunities to experience how ISA works firsthand. This helps to address common misconceptions that it can be distracting or cause problems by braking suddenly — a mistaken perception that arises because drivers confuse ISA with adaptive cruise control.
• Engage with drivers before, during and after deployment to improve driver buy-in. Fleet managers should engage with drivers regularly to make clear the technology can be an asset to them as well. It’s important to emphasize the differences between older speed governors and active ISA, which allows the driver more flexibility. Active ISA also can protect drivers from legal consequences or disciplinary action and intervene to slow the vehicle down in the event of a seizure or other medical emergency.
• Start small in a friendly testing environment. Piloting the technology on a small scale can help to identify technical challenges. For instance, geofencing errors can occur when ISA systems incorrectly identify speed limits from the roads adjacent to interstate entrance ramps and in other situations. Generally, these can be corrected within as little as 24 hours. Fleets can also customize their ISA systems to allow drivers to exceed the limit by a designated threshold and override the system for short periods. A pilot program can help nail down these specifics and overcome skepticism within the organization.

ISA could potentially be a game changer in road safety generally, not just for fleets. Speeding was a factor in nearly 12,000 deaths in 2023.

“Addressing this risky behavior is critical if we want to realize our 30x30 vision of reducing fatalities 30 percent by 2030,” Harkey said. “Fleets can lead the way.”