When a parking ticket with one of your fleet vehicles’ license plates stamped on it arrives at your office door, who coughs up the cash?
Ian Stewart of The Smart Van notices, “Companies appear to be split when it comes to who foots the bill for a parking ticket,” mostly because “the trouble of tracking down who was driving what van where and when is simply too difficult for most sizable organizations.” Accountability presents a challenge few fleet managers have time to address.
Still, most fleet managers agree that “vehicle issued violations present a costly, burdensome problem that could use better solutions,” according to a recent whitepaper published by American Traffic Solutions. Click here for the full report.
ATS reports fleet traffic violation volume increased 45% between 2005-2011.
According to the whitepaper, traffic violations in the United States are on the rise, “driven by cashless electronic toll collection as well as advances in enforcement technology and practices.”
Thanks to new technology, it’s never been easier for officials to bust drivers for toll violations, parking tickets, and photo-enforcement citations – the three most significant vehicle-issued violations impacting fleets today. And the fines are increasing, too. In some states, costs have doubled over the past year.
That’s why fleet managers need a solution now more than ever to reduce traffic violations and make drivers accountable for their actions on the job. The need goes beyond costs and hassle; it’s also about improving safety: “From speeding to distracted driving, unsafe driving jeopardizes the wellbeing of everyone on the road” (ATS).
Enter vehicle GPS tracking.
The Ranger CT solution from GPS Commander provides the tools you need to help your drivers avoid violations and collisions, while increasing accountability. Tools such as:
- Real-time monitoring on the GPS unit can track the vehicle’s speed and remind the driver when to slow down.
EXTRA TIP: Mention this feature to your fleet drivers when you introduce them to your new GPS tracking system; it’s an advantage on the road that could potentially save their lives.
- Customizable alerts can provide notifications to you and your system administrators for a range of activities, including speeding, idling, distance traveled, and ignition on/off, making it easy to identify high-risk drivers.
- Historical data reports provide quick and easy access to complete details of driver activity from days passed. In the case of a traffic violation fine, this allows administrators to efficiently track down the driver for the fined vehicle on the specific day, and ensure the driver is made accountable. This also helps lower your bottom line.
- Landmarks on your real-time and historical map views can be used to represent the location of free parking lots and available space in regular job sites. Recording and communicating this information between administrators and drivers helps reduce the instances of parking tickets and towing (which can have a huge impact on operations productivity and customer service).
Can we afford not to track our vehicles?
Besides reducing violation costs and lowering insurance premiums, the benefits of vehicle GPS tracking impact driver retention, customer service, and overall fleet safety – essential factors in running successful fleet operations.
Now it’s your turn:
1. Click here for a free Instant Quote on a vehicle GPS tracking solution for your fleet. Your affordable quote might surprise you.
2. Tell us what you do when parking tickets arrive at your office door – do you track down the driver responsible or does the company foot the bill?
References
Stewart, Ian. “The Parking Blues: The Bane of a Field Tech’s Existence.” 13 July 2012. Thesmartvan.com
“Traffic Violations Are On The Rise: How Fleets Can Prepare.” 2013, American Traffic Solutions
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