DriveCam's Driver Risk Management Program reduced the number of risky driving events by 52.2 percent and 37 percent for two separate fleets
, according to a recent study conducted by Virginia Tech Transportation Institute.

The study, sponsored by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, monitored 100 trucks, both long-haul and short-haul, over 17 weeks. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the safety benefits of a commercially available, low-cost driver behavior management system, according to the FMCSA. The DriveCam System integrates in-cab video, driving performance management software and driver counseling to reduce poor driving.

For four weeks, the event recorder recorded safety-related events. During this time, the feedback light was disabled, and safety managers did not have access to the recorded critical incidents to provide feedback to drivers. During another 13-week period, the feedback light was enabled, giving safety managers access to the recorded safety-related events.

"Both carriers (long-haul and short-haul) significantly reduced the mean frequency of recorded events/miles traveled from baseline to intervention," said Jeff Hickman, lead researcher at Virginia Tech Transportation Institute. "The results prove that the combination of onboard safety monitoring and behavioral coaching were responsible for the significant reduction in the mean frequency of events/miles traveled at both carriers."

"The ultimate result of reducing risky driving events is the reduction in claims costs, which provide significant dollars straight to the bottom line," said DriveCam CEO Brandon Nixon.

The FMCSA will host a webinar discussing the results of the study on July 22 at 12 p.m. Eastern time. To register for the webinar, visit www.fmcsa.dot.gov/facts-research/art-webinars-future.asp.