Chances are you’ve had your fair use of modern technology and GPS car tracking is likely familiar to you along with its usefulness for mobile devices and vehicles. However, “telematics” is a less well-known term becoming quite popular in fleet companies. And it can be a challenge to distinguish between the two if you’re not familiar with their unique processes and characteristics. Here, you’ll see GPS tracking and telematic’s roles in the fleet industry.
Difference Between GPS and Telematics
You are probably aware GPS uses satellite technology for tracking locations and other relevant device or vehicle data. Drivers use it frequently to help them find different destinations while they respond to service requests or make deliveries.
Telematics, on the other hand, uses telecommunications and GPS technology for gathering and reporting a large scope of data. Many telematics systems have tracking devices that will gather data on drivers:
- Location
- Braking
- Acceleration
- Idling
- And more
The data is then sent back to the user. With telematics, you can monitor your drivers’ driving behaviors and the location of your company vehicles at all times. A telematics system will provide you with accurate, live data within seconds regardless of whether you’re responsible for a couple of vehicles or a whole fleet of vehicles.
Teenage drivers have a greater crash risk than experienced adults. Community and legislative outreach techniques have tried to decrease this risk, but were left with mixed results.
Over the past decade, the number of teens in the U.S. killed driving smaller, older vehicles has stayed almost unchanged, according to an Insurance Institute for Highway Safety study.
During the years 2013 through 2017, over a quarter of teenage drivers killed in crashes were driving mini, micro or small cars. Almost two-thirds were behind the wheel of 6-15-year old vehicles which indicates nearly no change when you compare it with 2008 through 2012. In both time periods, adults fatally injured crashed in larger, newer vehicles a lot more frequently than teenagers.
If you’re thinking about buying a bike, be prepared for a long wait. According to Fox Business, we can expect a bike shortage to continue through 2021.
As Covid-19 spreads throughout cities in the U.S. and discourages the use of subways and buses, many people are starting to turn to a different mode of transportation – bikes.
Nationwide bicycle and equipment sales and repair services have increased twice as much as this same time last year. Some sales statistics that same month include:
- Fitness and commuter bikes increased by 66%
- Children’s bikes increased by 59%
- Leisure bikes increased by 121%
- Electric bikes increased by 85%
