Safety: A Game-Changing Approach to Fleet Management

Road safety is considered a public health issue worldwide due to the number of fatalities and long-term injuries, such as chronic injuries and lifelong disabilities. As a leading fleet management company, Element prioritizes road safety as part of our business strategy, aligned with our focus on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria. In doing so, we ensure that our clients have access to the latest safety technology and that we positively contribute to the social aspects of road safety in the markets where we operate globally.

Mexico’s fleet management sector is experiencing prominent growth, and along with it, we are engaged in leading by example with a safety approach that both increases our clients’ productivity and improves the challenging road safety indicators in the country. We are widely aware that in our sector we must think outside the box to create comprehensive solutions that integrate productivity and safety.

Low and middle-income countries account for 93% of the world's road fatalities and 60% of the world's vehicles. Mexico ranks seventh globally in road accidents and second in Latin America, a fact that costs the country approximately 4.5% of GDP annually. For these very reasons, promoting safe, efficient, and sustainable mobility needs to be a top priority. 

 When it comes to fleet management, the use of telematics is a key tool to ensure that we are providing optimal safety features to the companies we serve. The Arval Mobility Barometer 2023 reveals that approximately 75% of Mexican companies now use telematics features, such as connected passenger cars and light commercial vehicles (LCVs), primarily driven by safety concerns. 

 According to the report, for most fleet managers, security and safety issues are top of mind, situated above their general concern for efficiency and cost reductions. In its findings, the Barometer identified that, on average, vehicle security and driver safety are fleet managers’ primary motivations (41% and 34%, respectively) for having connected vehicles; operational efficiency and cost reductions account for 29% and 25%. Also, we have seen a real acceleration in the implementation of connectivity in the transportation sector. Almost 1 in 2 companies has a telematics tool within its fleet compared to 38% last year.

Given that vehicle safety technology could save more than 5,600 lives annually in Mexico, we are conscious that as fleet managers our actions have an important impact on society. Our suite of fleet driver safety products and services significantly reduce preventable collisions by 21% on average over a three-year period. Additionally, we have developed a powerful and innovative tool to achieve this goal, called DriverCare Connect, which will provide critical information regarding driver habits and skills that allow us to take remedial action to increase safety. 

 Understanding the power of data has driven our investment decisions. Element now has the ability to provide our customers with information on every aspect of the vehicle and its mobility. In Mexico, human error is responsible for 7 out of 10 road accidents. We aim to reduce these  numbers by introducing effective driver training as part of our conviction that road safety education should be at the center of our strategy. 

There is no doubt that road safety is an issue that goes beyond borders and requires multisector alliances. Governments alone cannot solve this problem, given that driver behavior and vehicle maintenance also play a key role in the safety equation. The lack of road safety has driven companies to seek effective partnerships to address challenges and embrace opportunities for smart mobility. Fleet managers serve as additional stakeholders who can help companies improve their mobility safety profiles.

 The United Nation’s Second Decade of Action for Road Safety aims to reduce road deaths and serious injuries by 50% by 2030. It is an ambitious goal that emphasizes the need for a holistic approach to road safety that includes road infrastructure improvements and vehicle design; the enhancement of laws and law enforcement; and the provision of timely emergency care for those who are injured. 

Internationally renowned organizations, such as the Red Cross, the Latin New Car Assessment Programme (Latin NCAP), and the Global Road Safety Partnership, recently launched the Agreement for Safe Fleets in Mexico. This is a certification program for those institutions and companies whose fleets comply with the safety devices recommended by the UN. This year, Element will be joining this program to reinforce our commitment to promoting safety in Mexico. 

As Mexico’s largest fleet managers, we continue to think creatively to ensure that our clients gain access to innovative products and services that contribute to their bottom line, while prioritizing the safety of their fleet, its drivers, and the public at large.