Tower Transit's telematics system sees improvements in drivers' on-road behaviour

From July last year (2016) to May this year (2017), Tower Transit's drivers have improved safety scores by a fold. ST PHOTO: JONATHAN CHOO

SINGAPORE - Bus operator Tower Transit, which implemented an IT system to improve drivers' behaviour on the road, has found the results of the system encouraging.

From July last year (2016) to May this year (2017), its drivers have improved safety scores by a fold.

The percentage of drivers in the "red" zone - deemed to have made unsafe moves - has also fallen from 15 per cent to 2 per cent .

Over the same period its accident numbers have fallen by 50 per cent, with "at fault" cases plunging by 70 per cent.

Tower Transit's telematics system - which tracks vehicle performance in real time via GPS and sensors and is tied to driver incentives - is similar to those used by fleet operators elsewhere.

In Singapore, a number of motor insurers have used telematics-based schemes to reward safe policyholders.

Bus and rail operator SMRT has also used a similar scheme to help reduce bus accident rates.

Anglo-Australian company Tower Transit operates about 360 buses on 26 routes in the western part Singapore. The company was the first to secure the rights to run under the Government's first bus contract.

Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.