The operator’s fleet – mostly 3.5-tonne vans – is now fitted with Mobileye’s technology, which warns drivers of an imminent collision with a vehicle, cyclist or pedestrian. The system also includes lane departure warning, and alerts for unsafe headway time or speeding.
“We work really hard on our driver standards but we had seen an increase in incidents – including rear-end collisions – that, in addition to the direct financial impact, threatened to increase our insurance costs long term,” explains Andrew Wright, Universal’s managing director.
After trialling Mobileye on a few vans, the results were “compelling”, he says, adding: “We expect the investment to have paid for itself within a year.”
Mobileye can be retrofitted to any vehicle, including buses and HGVs.
Andrew Wright is pictured, right, with Jeremy Coleman, Mobileye’s director for the UK and Ireland.