Mapon Blog

Fleet safety is changing fast, and Northern Europe is one of the most interesting places to see that change in action. In Latvia, the Road Traffic Safety Directorate (CSDD) and Mapon have joined forces to explore how technology can move us from reacting to accidents to preventing them altogether. The CSDD and Mapon webinar tackled a question every transport manager and safety expert should be asking: Can technology not just record accidents — but stop them from happening in the first place? A new kind of thinking for road safety CSDD’s safety expert Oskars Irbītis has spent years studying accidents to find out not just how they happen, but why. His experience in forensics, insurance, and vehicle security has led to one conclusion: Real road safety doesn’t depend on one thing. It’s the combination of the driver, the vehicle, the infrastructure, and the systems that connect them. For a long time, people focused on the first three. But the fourth, namely, technology, is what’s starting to change the equation. All kinds of sensors, as well as fleet cameras, are now part of the road safety ecosystem.  They don’t just help us react faster after something happens; they give us a chance to avoid the problem in the first place. There are safety technologies that help drivers maintain a safe distance and avoid collisions by detecting risks in real time From Accident Reports to Prevention Tools In fleet management, prevention is where technology shines. Mapon’s Product Manager for Safety and Cameras put it simply: “Traditional telematics, such as GPS monitoring, tells you what happened. Cameras show you why it happened.” That small shift from what to why makes all the difference. Most risky situations never make it to the news. A driver fighting fatigue on a long night shift, a van tailgating in city traffic, or a truck cutting a corner too tight – these moments rarely end in an accident, but they could have. And without visibility, they go unnoticed. When cameras and telematics work together, companies can spot these red flags before they escalate. A quick alert or coaching moment can prevent a future crash. That’s how you turn safety from a reaction into a routine. To achieve safer driving, data and safety systems must be viewed as a unified whole Seeing what’s really happening on the road Modern fleet cameras are far from the old “dashcam for evidence” setup. They record multiple angles – front, sides, rear, and cabin – and combine that footage with data on speed, braking, acceleration, and even driver fatigue. If the system detects a risk – say, the driver gets too close to another vehicle or shows signs of drowsiness – it can give an instant warning. And if something does happen, the footage tells the real story. That transparency helps everyone. Drivers understand what went wrong, managers can focus on coaching, and companies protect their reputation and resources. Driver monitoring systems identify fatigue, distraction, and risky behaviour, giving drivers a timely nudge before danger escalates How tech makes a difference The best part of these tools is how practical they are. Here’s what it looks like in action: Fatigue detection: when the system spots yawning or sleepy eyes during night shifts, dispatchers can call to check in or adjust schedules. Distance warnings: if the same risky spots keep triggering alerts, it’s a sign to rethink the route or timing. Seatbelt reminders: if drivers repeatedly skip buckling up, a quick automated nudge can fix the habit before it turns into trouble. Multi-camera analysis: reviewing side and rear footage helps train safer lane changes and cyclist awareness. These are small, everyday interventions. But over time, they create measurable results: fewer incidents, faster investigations, and drivers who feel supported rather than monitored. How to turn data into action Technology alone doesn’t improve safety. People do. That’s why Mapon encourages companies to start small and focus on behaviour, not surveillance. Here’s what works: Set clear metrics. For example, track the number of risky events per 1,000 km or how quickly drivers receive feedback. Review data regularly. Even a 15-minute weekly session helps keep teams aware and engaged. Fine-tune sensitivity. Not every fleet drives the same routes — tailor alerts to the context. Involve drivers. Explain how data helps them, not just the company. Celebrate good habits, instead of only pointing out mistakes. Test, learn, expand. Start with one or two focus areas, see what works, and grow from there. When drivers trust the process, technology becomes a partner, not a watchdog. Safety and privacy can coexist When it comes to cameras and monitoring, it’s fair to ask: what about privacy?CSDD and Mapon are clear – every system must meet GDPR and local data protection standards. That means: Only short clips tied to safety events are stored. Videos are automatically deleted after 30 days unless flagged. Access is limited to authorised users. Everything is encrypted and stored securely. Drivers always know what’s being recorded and why. This transparency builds credibility and trust, which, in the long run, makes safety initiatives sustainable. The Mapon platform helps managers analyse camera footage, identify risks, and coach drivers based on real-world events What’s next for fleets and safety technology The future of road safety will be data-driven. We’ll see new legislation adapting to modern fleet monitoring, AI-driven insights predicting risks, and even deeper integration between vehicles, infrastructure, and management systems. But progress won’t just come from innovation; it will come from how we use it. When companies treat data as a tool for learning rather than punishment, safety becomes part of their culture. Safety starts before the accident The best safety improvements happen long before an accident does. They come from insight, habit, and small corrections made in time. Technology helps with all three by showing what we’d otherwise miss. When a camera alert prevents a tired driver from drifting off, or a data review reveals a risky pattern, that’s one more tragedy avoided. CSDD and Mapon’s message is clear: real safety is shared safety. It’s built when technology supports drivers and when companies see prevention not as an expense, but as a way to protect people, reputation, and business. Want your fleet to stay safe on the road? Contact us and our team will help you choose solutions that fit your fleet and your drivers.

Fleet management is a complex mix of vehicles, people, cargo, and data. Yet, despite all the tools available today, many companies still run their operations on outdated beliefs. These myths don’t just cloud decision-making – they cost money, time, and sometimes even good drivers. To clear the air, we turned to Mapon’s chief of technicians – the person who spends the most time with our clients and knows the day-to-day reality of running a fleet. Here are the three myths he faces most often, and the truths behind them. Myth 1: All drivers steal fuel For many fleet owners, fuel theft feels like a constant threat. It’s an easy assumption to hold: fuel seemingly disappears, costs rise, and someone must be blamed. The suspicion often falls on drivers. But reality is more nuanced. Most drivers don’t steal fuel at all. The real culprit behind high fuel expenses is… driving itself. Speeding, long idling, sharp acceleration or braking all increase consumption. In fact, two drivers behind the wheel of the same truck, on the same route, can end up with very different results. One of our clients has witnessed it himself – they had a driver who had a low driver behaviour rating. It turned out he was driving a truck like a light vehicle. The managers coached the driver and achieved €300 in monthly savings. Relying on suspicion alone damages trust. A company may invest in sensors and alarms to catch theft, yet still see costs spiral. Why? Because the real problem – inefficient driving – hasn’t been addressed. Another client saw the transformation first-hand: a driver who had been suspected of taking €100 of fuel each month turned into one of the company’s most efficient employees. Instead of punishment, he was offered a €100 monthly bonus for economical driving. His behaviour changed, saving the company hundreds of euros monthly. The driver was happy, the company saved money, and the “fuel theft” problem disappeared. How Mapon can help save fuel: fuel management and driver behaviour tools don’t just monitor, they enable companies to build incentive programs. When drivers know they’re rewarded for efficiency, they’re motivated to improve. Both drivers and managers can see an automatic driving-style assessment generated by the GPS device from real driving data. Managers can open a report to see how much fuel a specific vehicle or driver has consumed over a given period and use this information to encourage more efficient driving. Myth 2: AI will replace drivers Autonomous systems and AI-based solutions are advancing quickly, and it’s tempting to believe drivers will soon be out of the picture. But talk to anyone who’s been in logistics long enough and you’ll hear the same truth: drivers remain irreplaceable. Technology can react in milliseconds, but it cannot anticipate like a human. Our chief of technicians recalls a story from Sweden where a truck’s advanced safety system stopped in time to avoid hitting children who ran across the road. But the real reason the outcome was safe? The driver had already noticed the school bus nearby, lifted his foot off the accelerator, and hovered over the brake. His instincts and anticipation gave the system the extra margin it needed. Would the truck have stopped without that? No one knows – and no one would want to test it. This myth is dangerous because it undervalues drivers. Companies that talk about replacing drivers risk scaring away the very people they need most. Recruiting and retaining skilled professionals is already difficult. Suggesting they’ll be replaced makes it worse. How Mapon can help boost the driver’s role: Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and driver monitoring tools support drivers, but they don’t replace them. They help reduce risks and provide peace of mind, while the human behind the wheel stays in control. Myth 3: Technology alone solves fleet problems Installing some new devices feels like progress. But too often, companies expect technology to “fix” everything on its own. The hard truth is that data doesn’t change behaviour. People do. One Mapon client had access to temperature monitoring in refrigerated trailers. When shipments were damaged because drivers left trailer doors open too long, the system clearly showed the problem. Yet the company hesitated to act, fearing that stricter rules would upset drivers. The result? More spoiled cargo. Only after they introduced a clear policy – if temperature limits are exceeded, there will be consequences – did compliance improve. The lesson is simple: sensors, trackers, and reports only help when they’re used to start conversations and set expectations. Without communication and clear incentives, they remain underutilised. Mapon’s role: Custom dashboards, detailed reports, and data that can be used for incentive programs help managers turn raw data into action. We don’t just provide numbers; we give companies the means to act on them. What successful fleet management really looks like These and other myths distract companies from what’s already possible. Many still believe stress-free, efficient operations are years away, but with the right tools and approach, it’s already here. Mapon clients can already: Check key fleet metrics in seconds, not hours. Share one reliable system across accounting, maintenance, and dispatch. Turn driver behaviour insights into incentive programs that cut fuel use and keep drivers motivated. Use real-time temperature and video monitoring to prevent cargo losses. Plan routes and daily tasks based on live data instead of guesswork. This isn’t a distant future. It’s what happens now, when technology is paired with clear rules, good communication, and trust. Myths stick around because they’re easy to believe. But they also cost companies money and damage trust with drivers. Reality-based fleet management works best when it balances technology with people. That’s how companies save fuel, protect cargo, and keep their drivers on the road. Want to see how Mapon can help you run a smarter, more efficient fleet? Get in touch with us today.

Modern technology offers immense potential for fleet management analytics and data-driven decision-making. The more you utilise data and set benchmarks for the future, the more confident you become about your decisions.However, it can be difficult to navigate all the information and not drown in the numerous platforms used by the company. In fact, 46% of fleets use over 10 apps to manage operations, and 48% of fleet managers emphasise that the most helpful technology solution for them would be a single platform that provides all necessary information.

With the European Union’s plans to reach zero net emissions of greenhouse gases and climate neutrality by 2050, it is clear that every business has to contribute to the goal. The transport industry carries a large responsibility for this, as it currently accounts for ¼ of the global CO2 emissions.Green fleet management solutions offer a promising path toward more sustainable operations and enhanced efficiency of your business. In this article, we’ll outline five ways to go green while boosting the overall effectiveness of your company.