SmartDrive: FMCSA Grants Renewal of Event Video Recorder Exemption

SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--SmartDrive Systems, a leader in driving performance solutions that reduce collisions and improve fuel efficiency, announced today the renewal of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA)’s exemption to allow video event recorders to be mounted on commercial motor vehicles lower in the windshield. This exemption permits SmartDrive’s video event recorder to be mounted in the commercial motor vehicles, in accordance to specifications outlined by the Agency, which does not obstruct the driver’s lines of sight that would violate traffic rules and regulations.

“(1) identification and remediation of risky driving behaviors such as distracted driving and drowsiness; (2) enhanced monitoring of passenger behavior for CMVs in passenger service; and (3) enhanced collision review and analysis.”

SmartDrive solutions are used by public and private fleets across industries to increase safety and operating efficiency through improved driving skills and performance. SmartDrive uses a combination of video analysis and predictive analytics to provide fleets complete insight into safety and fuel waste. Using a combination of online services and in-cab tools, fleets can immediately realize sustained, consistent improvements in driving performance and skills.

According to the FMCSA, commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) can continue to use the video event recorders in order to increase safety through “(1) identification and remediation of risky driving behaviors such as distracted driving and drowsiness; (2) enhanced monitoring of passenger behavior for CMVs in passenger service; and (3) enhanced collision review and analysis.” FMCSA further explained that the possibly safety gains from “the use of video event recorders to improve driver behavior will improve the overall level of safety to the motoring public.” This continues to validate the importance of innovations in the category of video event recorders, pursuing improvements in fleet safety.

“Our solutions serve such a critical need in protecting the safety of commercial fleets and the motoring public,” states Steve Mitgang, CEO, SmartDrive Systems. “By pinpointing specific unsafe driving skills, our video event recorder gives commercial fleets the visibility to identify, manage and improve drivers’ performance quickly and efficiently, greatly reducing unsafe driving behavior and, more importantly, collisions. This exemption confirms the importance of our technology innovation and leadership and how it impacts the safety of the motoring public.”

The renewal of exemption applies to all video event recorders for all commercial motor vehicles. By granting this exemption renewal, the agency concludes that commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) maintain “a level of safety that is equivalent to or greater than the level of safety achieved without the exemption.”

Find out more about the exemption by clicking here.

About SmartDrive Systems

SmartDrive Systems gives fleets and drivers unprecedented driving performance insight and analysis, helping save fuel, expenses and lives. Its video analysis, predictive analytics and personalized performance program help fleets improve driving skills, lower operating costs and deliver significant ROI. With an easy-to-use managed service, fleets and drivers can access and self-manage driving performance anytime, anywhere. The company has compiled the world's largest storehouse of more than 59 million analyzed risky-driving events. SmartDrive Systems is based in San Diego, CA, and employs over 400 people worldwide.

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