Initiative details
Our experience shows that most road accidents are caused by human error. Various analyses carried out by ALSA show that most road accidents are caused by inappropriate driver behaviour.
In order to manage road safety proactively, it is necessary to have a detailed and rigorous knowledge of the performance and behaviour of each driver in order to know their skills and behaviours, as well as to track their evolution over time.
To this end, ALSA has invested in technology in more than 3,700 vehicles in Spain that allows us to measure speeding, monitor various parameters that reflect driving style and detect various driver behaviours using innovative smart camera technology.
These smart cameras are based on "machine vision” and "artificial intelligence" (MV+IA) systems, which allow us to detect 40 types of driver behaviour and are particularly noteworthy for their innovation.
The data provided by the aforementioned technologies is used to calculate the risk profile of each driver. ALSA defines personalised actions for each driver: training, assignment to certain vehicles and routes, greater follow-up and monitoring, etc.
In addition, each driver has access to the data available on their own performance through an internal app (called "MiAlsa"). In this way, drivers can consult information on their own performance (consumption, driving styles, speeding, incidents, etc.).
In order to manage road safety proactively, it is necessary to have a detailed and rigorous knowledge of the performance and behaviour of each driver in order to know their skills and behaviours, as well as to track their evolution over time.
To this end, ALSA has invested in technology in more than 3,700 vehicles in Spain that allows us to measure speeding, monitor various parameters that reflect driving style and detect various driver behaviours using innovative smart camera technology.
These smart cameras are based on "machine vision” and "artificial intelligence" (MV+IA) systems, which allow us to detect 40 types of driver behaviour and are particularly noteworthy for their innovation.
The data provided by the aforementioned technologies is used to calculate the risk profile of each driver. ALSA defines personalised actions for each driver: training, assignment to certain vehicles and routes, greater follow-up and monitoring, etc.
In addition, each driver has access to the data available on their own performance through an internal app (called "MiAlsa"). In this way, drivers can consult information on their own performance (consumption, driving styles, speeding, incidents, etc.).
Initiative date
to
Who was/is your target audience?
Policy makers
Public authorities
Children 0-16
Young adults 17-25
Adults
Parents
Seniors
Company employees
Fleet operators
Car drivers
Car drivers – professional
Educational staff
Emergency services
Public transport
Van drivers
Lorry/truck drivers
Cyclists
Micromobility riders
Powered two wheeler riders (excluding micromobility)
Pedestrians
Others
Topic
Create awareness
Improve vehicles and infrastructure
Knowledge building and sharing
Provide alternative solutions
Organisation details
ALSA
Enterprise
Spain
MADRID
Contact name
EDUARDO MAYORAL MAESTRO
Telephone number
+34 647360618
emayoral@alsa.es
Website link
Project activities
If you work together with external partners, list the most important partners and briefly describe their role.
LYTX: supplier of Drivecam smart cameras based on MV+AI; Tracking: Webfleet, Samsaras, ADN, Geotab; Stack technological Google: INSPIDE (development of the speeding measurement system).
Please describe the project activities you carried/are carrying out and the time period over which these were implemented.
In 2010 we began the implementation of the safety program “Driving Out Harm” that aims to ensure that safety is always front of mind so that we are the safest mass transit operator in the communities we serve. Our aim is to drive out all risks of harm to our customers, our colleagues and others affected by our business.
Our Health and Safety Policy is supported by Global Safety Standards and Global Safety Policies. As part of the Driving Out Harm programme we have been increasingly exploring, testing and implementing technologies to strengthen our control of safety risks. Monitoring of drivers is fundamental to ensure that the behaviour and performance of drivers is in accordance with the standards required by ALSA.
Since 2010, ALSA has progressively developed the following technologies in 3,700 vehicles:
a)Systems for measuring speeding. Alsa's vehicle tracking system uses positioning technology to monitor the location and movement of a vehicle in real time. This system consists of a GPS device installed in the vehicle that collects location, speed and direction data, which is sent via a communication network (cellular network) to Alsa's data platform.
b)In addition to monitoring the location and movement of a vehicle, a vehicle tracking system can also analyse acceleration, braking and turning (ABC) events. These events are recorded and can be used to assess driver behaviour, identify aggressive or unsafe driving patterns, and improve fleet operational efficiency. Our users can access this information and it allows them to track vehicle location, analyse speed alerts and driving patterns to take action and promote safer driving.
c) Intelligent cameras based on machine vision and artificial intelligence technologies (MV+IA). We have developed our technological approach in this area with the use of the Lytx DriveCam system amongst others. Lytx are world leaders in technologies based on smart cameras. DriveCam is a smart camera system which alerts us to risky behaviours and provides evidence-based data that allows us to implement improvement plans for drivers. DriveCam records footage before and after a detected incident and this allows us to focus on near misses which would not normally be recorded. We currently have this system installed on over 2,200 vehicles in Spain. We use DriveCam positively - when an incident is recorded, managers coach the drivers on how it could have been avoided, helping to reduce preventable accidents. This focus has led to strong results, with a Lytx report highlighting that we had the lowest ‘risk score’ among users at the world level and are leaders in this area. We have currently identified more than 40 types of driver behaviours which will benefit from coaching.
The information from these systems feeds into our driver risk profiling system. All drivers are formally evaluated and rated depending on performance. They are classified according to their skills and behaviours and are allocated to a global rating. This information is used to allocate drivers to services and to provide training adjusted to everyone’s needs. We also hold events to publicly recognise and reward top performance behind the wheel.
Our Health and Safety Policy is supported by Global Safety Standards and Global Safety Policies. As part of the Driving Out Harm programme we have been increasingly exploring, testing and implementing technologies to strengthen our control of safety risks. Monitoring of drivers is fundamental to ensure that the behaviour and performance of drivers is in accordance with the standards required by ALSA.
Since 2010, ALSA has progressively developed the following technologies in 3,700 vehicles:
a)Systems for measuring speeding. Alsa's vehicle tracking system uses positioning technology to monitor the location and movement of a vehicle in real time. This system consists of a GPS device installed in the vehicle that collects location, speed and direction data, which is sent via a communication network (cellular network) to Alsa's data platform.
b)In addition to monitoring the location and movement of a vehicle, a vehicle tracking system can also analyse acceleration, braking and turning (ABC) events. These events are recorded and can be used to assess driver behaviour, identify aggressive or unsafe driving patterns, and improve fleet operational efficiency. Our users can access this information and it allows them to track vehicle location, analyse speed alerts and driving patterns to take action and promote safer driving.
c) Intelligent cameras based on machine vision and artificial intelligence technologies (MV+IA). We have developed our technological approach in this area with the use of the Lytx DriveCam system amongst others. Lytx are world leaders in technologies based on smart cameras. DriveCam is a smart camera system which alerts us to risky behaviours and provides evidence-based data that allows us to implement improvement plans for drivers. DriveCam records footage before and after a detected incident and this allows us to focus on near misses which would not normally be recorded. We currently have this system installed on over 2,200 vehicles in Spain. We use DriveCam positively - when an incident is recorded, managers coach the drivers on how it could have been avoided, helping to reduce preventable accidents. This focus has led to strong results, with a Lytx report highlighting that we had the lowest ‘risk score’ among users at the world level and are leaders in this area. We have currently identified more than 40 types of driver behaviours which will benefit from coaching.
The information from these systems feeds into our driver risk profiling system. All drivers are formally evaluated and rated depending on performance. They are classified according to their skills and behaviours and are allocated to a global rating. This information is used to allocate drivers to services and to provide training adjusted to everyone’s needs. We also hold events to publicly recognise and reward top performance behind the wheel.
In terms of implementation, what worked well and what challenges did you need to overcome?
The three main problems were:
1) Technical problems: initially this type of technology generates many "false positives" that need to be corrected manually. It is a very laborious job that has taken several years of work.
2) Trade union problems: The installation of smart cameras raised doubts and concerns among trade unions. It was an innovative system that required a driver-facing camera capable of recording a 14-second video when the system detected an anomalous situation. Numerous meetings with trade unions were necessary to explain that this was a driving improvement programme and not just a worker monitoring system.
3) Legal issues: several consultations with the Spanish Data Protection Agency (AEPD) were necessary to ensure full compliance with Spanish and European regulations in this area.
On the other hand, What worked well were: a) Internal communication campaigns at all levels of the company to explain that these technologies were not intended to be a tool for monitoring and punishment but a way to improve the competence of drivers and traffic technicians. b) Development of an internal app "MiAlsa" to share the information available with the drivers themselves. c) Organisation of "Safety Awards" where good safety performance is recognised on an annual basis.
1) Technical problems: initially this type of technology generates many "false positives" that need to be corrected manually. It is a very laborious job that has taken several years of work.
2) Trade union problems: The installation of smart cameras raised doubts and concerns among trade unions. It was an innovative system that required a driver-facing camera capable of recording a 14-second video when the system detected an anomalous situation. Numerous meetings with trade unions were necessary to explain that this was a driving improvement programme and not just a worker monitoring system.
3) Legal issues: several consultations with the Spanish Data Protection Agency (AEPD) were necessary to ensure full compliance with Spanish and European regulations in this area.
On the other hand, What worked well were: a) Internal communication campaigns at all levels of the company to explain that these technologies were not intended to be a tool for monitoring and punishment but a way to improve the competence of drivers and traffic technicians. b) Development of an internal app "MiAlsa" to share the information available with the drivers themselves. c) Organisation of "Safety Awards" where good safety performance is recognised on an annual basis.
Evaluation
Please summarise how you have evaluated the initiative’s impact (e.g. social media reach, survey, feedback forms, statistics).
The "Driving Out Harm” safety programme, has had a very positive impact on our activity, some highlights being:
- Sharp reduction in the accident rate (66% reduction in terms of accident severity).
- Customer satisfaction of safety.
- Employee satisfaction of safety.
- We have received the highest rating in the CSEAA certificates (Company and Bus and Coach Safety Certificate) awarded by the INSIA.
- We have received numerous national and international road safety awards (Fundación MAPFRE award, Prince Michael award, Workplace Road Safety granted by the Regional Institute of Safety and Health at Work of the Regional Government of Madrid, etc.)
- Sharp reduction in the accident rate (66% reduction in terms of accident severity).
- Customer satisfaction of safety.
- Employee satisfaction of safety.
- We have received the highest rating in the CSEAA certificates (Company and Bus and Coach Safety Certificate) awarded by the INSIA.
- We have received numerous national and international road safety awards (Fundación MAPFRE award, Prince Michael award, Workplace Road Safety granted by the Regional Institute of Safety and Health at Work of the Regional Government of Madrid, etc.)
What has been the effect of the activities?
We have learned that safety is manageable. Most road accidents are preventable and, therefore, can be avoided by detecting the behaviours that cause accidents and implementing the appropriate preventive measures. In addition, we have found that the efforts and investments made in recent years in road safety are well perceived and valued by all our stakeholders (customers, employees, public administrations, suppliers and society in general).
Since 2010, we have achieved a 36% reduction in the accident rate and a 66% reduction in terms of accident severity, which shows that the goal of zero victims on our roads is achievable.
With these results, bus transport has accident rates similar to those of aviation or rail, being 20 times safer than the private vehicle in accordance with official statistics.
Since 2010, we have achieved a 36% reduction in the accident rate and a 66% reduction in terms of accident severity, which shows that the goal of zero victims on our roads is achievable.
With these results, bus transport has accident rates similar to those of aviation or rail, being 20 times safer than the private vehicle in accordance with official statistics.
Please briefly explain why your initiative is a good example of improving road safety.
The technology we have implemented in our fleet of 3,700 vehicles in Spain is totally innovative, as ALSA is the only company in the European Union using LYTX's Drivecam technology.
We think that road safety must be managed proactively. We cannot wait for accidents to happen before taking action. Therefore, it key to detect and correct those behaviours and actions of drivers that pose a risk of accidents.
The use of smart cameras is very new and is not without problems at this initial stage. However, given its proven effectiveness in reducing road safety, it is important to disseminate the results obtained over the years in order to promote its use by other European companies.
Within the European Union, this is particularly interesting as there is no homogeneous legal framework in all countries that allows the use of this type of technology.
We think that road safety must be managed proactively. We cannot wait for accidents to happen before taking action. Therefore, it key to detect and correct those behaviours and actions of drivers that pose a risk of accidents.
The use of smart cameras is very new and is not without problems at this initial stage. However, given its proven effectiveness in reducing road safety, it is important to disseminate the results obtained over the years in order to promote its use by other European companies.
Within the European Union, this is particularly interesting as there is no homogeneous legal framework in all countries that allows the use of this type of technology.
How have you shared information about your project and its results?
ALSA publishes an annual Sustainability Report that includes the main results obtained as a result of the implementation of the "Driving Out Harm” safety programme.
In addition, ALSA regularly participates in various national and international forums in order to share its successful experience in the use of technologies to manage road safety, for instance:
1) Fleet Europe Congress in Lisbon (2023).
2) Case Study “Preventing Road Accidents and Injuries for the Safety of Employees” published by European Transport Safety Council (ETSC). https://etsc.eu/managing-road-risk-at-work-case-study-alsa/
3) Presentation in Brussels by ETSC.
In addition, ALSA regularly participates in various national and international forums in order to share its successful experience in the use of technologies to manage road safety, for instance:
1) Fleet Europe Congress in Lisbon (2023).
2) Case Study “Preventing Road Accidents and Injuries for the Safety of Employees” published by European Transport Safety Council (ETSC). https://etsc.eu/managing-road-risk-at-work-case-study-alsa/
3) Presentation in Brussels by ETSC.