VOXX Advanced Solutions, a subsidiary of VOXX International, and Motion Intelligence recently formed a partnership focused on delivering a driver safety technology that combats distracted driving in fleet and passenger vehicles.
In 2017, the trucking technology company Zendrive studied 3 million anonymous truck drivers for three months. During the study period, drivers made 570 million trips and drove 5.6 billion miles, and on 88% of these trips, truckers used their phones while driving. On average, drivers spent 3.5 minutes of every hour looking at their phone’s screens.
Motion Intelligence, a software technology provider, developed a multi-solution platform based on the detection and precise location of mobile devices in vehicles. The Motion Intelligence solution is made up of a software component, Evvy, and a windshield mounted device, FSD1, which are manufactured and distributed by VOXX.
Evvy installs as an app on the user’s mobile device or integrated into existing software and telematics solutions. Evvy works in tandem with the Audiovox FSD1 windshield-mount to identify any smart mobile devices in the driver’s zone and prevent the driver from texting, using social media, or any other apps while the vehicle is moving.
The device can be configured by the fleet manager to enable apps such as navigation and Bluetooth.
“We are thrilled to finally find a product and software solution that can actually have an impact on the epidemic problem of distracted driving from the use of handheld devices in fleet vehicles,” said Tom Malone, president of VOXX Advanced Solutions.
“Fleet managers now have a tool that allows them to control what a driver can access on a handheld device. It does not, however, restrict the driver from accessing apps such as navigation or Bluetooth operation as determined by the fleet manager. We expect to see significant adoption by some of the largest fleets in the US and Europe to start.”
Sue Spradley, CEO of Motion Intelligence, said the company’s priority was to eliminate a driver’s hands-on use of a mobile device behind the wheel, while also enabling the driver to use the device safely.
“To do that effectively, we needed to be able to detect any mobile device in a vehicle, then pinpoint exactly where it is in the vehicle,” Spradley said. “That precise location information allows for a multitude of device management applications which enhance driver and passenger safety, and this ultimately saves lives.”