Acorn Mobility adopts “pioneering” fleet technology to help successfully slash incidents of speeding
West Yorkshire-based Acorn Mobility Services, an independent company specialising solely in the manufacture and installation of stairlifts, has adopted fleet technology that has successfully cut incidents of over-speeding among its drivers by more than 80 per cent.
Created by Lightfoot, the brand new Live Overspeed Alerts solution is the latest addition to Lightfoot’s suite of pioneering fleet management technology, which delivers safer, more efficient driving styles through real-time, in-cab coaching and rewards. Adopted by Acorn Mobility Services in 2019, Lightfoot has led to fuel savings and emissions reductions of 12.3 per cent in its fleet.
The new development, which is available as an add-on to Lightfoot’s system, was trialled across Acorn Mobility Services Ltd’s fleet of 136 commercial vehicles ahead of its official launch. It notifies drivers whenever they exceed the speed limit. Using Lightfoot’s patented nudge psychology, the dashboard device encourages drivers to adjust their speed with a series of warnings should they stray above speed limit for 10 seconds or more.
Drivers ignoring the overspeeding alerts receive a Lightfoot penalty, and if they receive five or more such penalties in a week, they become ineligible to enter weekly giveaways and competitions available via the Lightfoot Driver App.
Pete Hodgson, UK & European Fleet/Transport Manager for Acorn Mobility Services, integrated Live Overspeed Alerts into his Lightfoot package during trials at the end of last year. Commenting on its impact, he said: “The Live Overspeed feature has been a great addition. It enabled us to reduce incidents of speeding by 81% in just a matter of weeks. Now, we not only have a safer fleet, but our vehicles are being driven more efficiently. That means lower fuel use, less risk of wear and tear, and a reduction in the likelihood of accidental damage to our vans. It’s a win-win outcome all around.”
Commenting on the importance of the Live Overspeed Alerts feature, which has been launched this week, Paul Hollick, Managing Director of Lightfoot, said: “Thirteen per cent of all road accidents in the UK are caused by drivers travelling at excessive speed. These accidents account for 27 per cent of all fatalities. With one driver caught speeding every 5 minutes, this is a major issue for fleets. It puts their drivers, passengers, and other road users at risk. It also leads to vehicle damage, hefty insurance premiums, and a negative brand reputation – all costly issues to fix.
“Fleets clearly have a crucial part to play in keeping Britain’s roads safe by cracking down on speed-related instances of dangerous driving. That’s why we created the new Live Overspeed Alerts feature. This builds on Lightfoot’s existing ability to cut speeding by training individuals to adopt a more careful, considered approach to driving, but it takes this to a whole new level.
“By directly flagging speeding incidents as they happen, drivers are left in no doubt about their speed status and can therefore modify their driving style accordingly. For those that speed repeatedly, managers are able to pinpoint individuals who represent a risk within their fleet. This constructively tackles the issue of speeding head on, creating a safer driving culture for all our customers.”
Live Overspeed Alerts reports weekly overspeeding events to fleet managers, detailing the speeding penalties for each driver, and storing full details in the Lightfoot fleet management portal. This allows operators to swiftly identify repeat offenders within their fleet, and to monitor improvements over time.
An industry-leading fleet management solution, Lightfoot combines its in-cab coaching device and driver rewards platform to deliver substantial, sustainable results. The dashboard display device uses live engine data to provide drivers with real-time visual and audible feedback, allowing them to manage their own performance and build better driving habits.
Alongside the in-cab device, Lightfoot also provides a dedicated Drivers App. Here, drivers can view their performance data, keep track of their driving score, and compete in league tables with other drivers. When they reach Lightfoot’s ‘Elite Driver’ standard (scoring 85 per cent or higher) they gain access to a range of exclusive competitions, including The Drivers’ Lottery, where they can win up to £100 each week, and a host of prize giveaways.
According to Lightfoot, the benefits of smoother, safer driving include fuel savings of up to 15 per cent, a 40 per cent reduction in at-fault accidents, 45 per cent less vehicle wear and tear, and a cut in CO2 emissions of up to 15 per cent. In EVs, a more uniform driving style also contributes to range increases of up to 15 per cent.
