It’s almost impossible to make objective decisions or improve performance without keeping track of Key Performance Indicator (KPI) metrics. Safety KPIs, in particular, are essential in keeping your fleet running at optimum levels while ensuring minimal risk.
What are Key Performance Indicators?
KPIs help gauge progress towards intended goals and can be applied to any function of your business. KPI safety metrics measure how well your staff and vehicles perform and provide focus points for operational improvements based on historical and real-time data.
The most popular methods of calculating KPIs involve using a formula to record events based on either frequency or incident rate:
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Frequency Rate – The number of events over a given period, divided by the number of hours worked.
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Incident Rate – The number of events over a given period, divided by the number of employees.
Collating safety performance metrics can sometimes feel like an overwhelming task. However, modern-day fleet management dashboards allow admins to generate KPI reports based on virtually any variable.
How Do Businesses Use Safety KPIs?
The beauty of KPI data is that it is objective, quantitative, and does not allow for accidental bias towards any particular person, asset, or mode of operation. Once an organization has identified the safety KPI they wish to focus on, the data gathered can pinpoint average performance, trends, and areas for improvement. Fleet managers can then use this information to develop improved plans for training, maintenance, and compliance, etc.
6 Safety KPI Metrics You Should Be Tracking
Which specific KPI you track will depend on your business type. For example, the goals for a short-haul delivery service would be different from those of a long-haul cargo fleet. That said, when it comes to safety, KPI examples like these should be top of your list.
1. Number of Incidents & Accidents
Incident management KPIs are a vital component in maintaining fleet safety. Your commitment to reducing the risk of accidents sets you apart as an employer, keeps your drivers and vehicles on the road, and helps avoid hefty costs associated with collisions.
2. Near Misses
Near misses are just as important to record as actual incidents. They provide insights that predict potential accidents and help you to prevent them. Near miss data is difficult to collect without a robust reporting system and active employee participation. That’s why many fleets utilize onboard telematics to gather real-time information.
3. Driver Training
It is essential that regular coaching and updates are provided so that safety is always at the forefront of your drivers’ minds. Measurable metrics that help determine training needs include the number of training hours, retention of training information, and the frequency of incidents in comparison.
4. Driver Safety
Safety performance indicators are some of the most important variables to track. Dashboard KPI monitors and smart fleet dash cams can help detect and deter a range of driver distractions and risky behaviors that have been proven to increase the risk of a collision. Examples include:
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Eating
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Drinking
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Smoking
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Texting
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Unsafe following distances
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Speeding
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Incomplete stops
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Harsh braking
5. Hours of Service (HOS)
Any fleet that is subject to HOS regulations is required to keep track of the following data:
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Total hours spent driving
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Number of rest periods
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Time spent on rest periods
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Hours driven between rest periods
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Number of consecutive days of driving
It’s not just about compliance, though. Tracking HOS metrics also allows you to identify inefficiencies in fuel consumption, idle time, and any unauthorized mileage.
6. Vehicle Inspections
By gaining more insights from every vehicle inspection, it’s possible to implement benchmarks and build a vehicle maintenance plan that keeps your fleet in optimal condition while simultaneously reducing overall costs and avoiding unexpected breakdowns.
Fleet Safety Made Easy
The most efficient way to track safety KPIs is to utilize technology like Lytx. We connect fleets and data at an unprecedented scale:
- 24/7/365 - our devices cover nearly every inch of every major road in the U.S. once every hour.
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One billion miles of driving data is collected every 10 days.
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With 10 years of experience with machine vision systems and artificial intelligence (MV+AI), Lytx programs are associated with up to 50% reduction in collisions.
Start Tracking Today
If you want to accurately track all of the safety KPIs we’ve listed above and more, then it’s time to learn about our software.
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Our driver-centric tools help prevent collisions by detecting and alerting† drivers to self-correct their own risky behaviors.
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Our intelligent business dashboards allow fleet managers to more accurately collect and collate the right information to drive your business forward.
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Our MV+AI technology provides comprehensive data and an unrivaled overview of operations.
Contact our team today to discuss the best solutions for your fleet.