Smart car trackers have revolutionised how we manage and monitor our vehicles. Through highly advanced technology, they provide real-time information to protect our vehicles from theft and misuse. They also play a crucial role in enhancing driver safety by monitoring vehicle and driver performance as well as external conditions. There are many different types of car tracker on the market to suit all budgets and requirements, most of them insurance-approved and certified by Thatcham Research.
If you need help in deciding which tracker is right for you make sure you seek advice from someone like leading suppliers of vehicle trackers. They will be able to give you more insights and details into the specific benefits of different trackers.
In general, here’s how a smart car tracker can contribute to a safer driving experience.
Driver behaviour monitoring
Smart trackers can play an important role in alerting a driver to dangerous behaviours such as speeding, harsh acceleration, braking or making dangerous manoeuvres. This could encourage safer driving habits and potentially be a licence-saving support system. This feature can be especially useful for new drivers or for parents wishing to keep their children safe as they venture out onto the roads for the first time.
The more advanced models of car trackers can use AI or sensors to detect signs of driver fatigue or distraction, also issuing timely alerts to remind drivers when to take a break.
Real-time location tracking
This feature is useful in the event of a vehicle being stolen, offering second-by-second updates on where a vehicle is. Precise location data can instantly send an alert to the owner and contribute to the vehicle’s quick recovery. Smart trackers can also provide precise GPS location data to enable faster response times in case of a breakdown or accident.
Many trackers use this advanced technology to detect collisions and alert the emergency services automatically. Critical data transmission gives key details such as location and impact severity to first responders and paramedics, which can prove useful in the assessment and treatment of injuries.
A smart tracker can record data during a crash such as how fast the car was travelling, whether harsh braking or acceleration was involved and the direction of travel taken. This can all help to determine the cause of a crash and prevent similar incidents, while also informing insurance scenarios.
At the very least, real-time location tracking can provide peace of mind to parents worried about a young driver and also to drivers who may be prone to forgetting where they parked the car.
Weather and traffic information
Some smart trackers can integrate with local weather data to warn drivers about adverse weather and dangerous driving conditions. Real-time traffic updates can show where there are hold-ups and can help drivers to find a different route to avoid congestion and reduce the risk of the type of accidents which can occur when impatient or inexperienced drivers take unnecessary risks in heavy traffic.
Geo-fencing and boundaries
Smart trackers have a function which allows the setting of virtual boundaries or restricted area alerts and can send a warning to a vehicle owner if it enters or moves beyond the designated zone. This feature can also ensure a driver stays within a set safe zone. For fleet managers, geofencing and boundary management is useful for monitoring unauthorised vehicle usage by professional drivers.
Monitor vehicle health
Some smart trackers talk to the vehicle’s onboard diagnostic system to monitor engine performance, fuel usage, battery condition and tyre pressures among other engine management issues. These provide timely notification of any problems which need to be dealt with before they become critical.
Early detection of mechanical problems can minimise the risk of having a sudden unexpected breakdown while on the road.
By offering a combination of real-time data, predictive insights and automated responses, smart car trackers provide an enhanced level of safety for drivers.
