HATs Group Decreases Incident Costs by 96% with Lytx and Geotab

HATS Group, one of the U.K.’s leading providers of specialist transport solutions to the private and public sector including NHS and Local Authorities has a long-standing reputation for professionalism and service excellence. With more than 935 vehicles on the road executing in excess of one million journeys every year, the company bears an immense responsibility to efficiently and safely transport passengers to their destinations.

HATS Group faced significant challenges with increasing insurance premiums. Here’s how HATS Group successfully lowered their risk to improve fleet safety and control costs. 

Advancing Safety with Video-Based Telematics

To successfully bring down the frequency and cost of their insurance claims, HATS Group required more advanced tools and technologies that could reveal what was happening on the road and why. The company’s existing telematics system did not provide the visibility or data needed to manage risk, which then hindered their ability to improve driver behaviour and overall fleet safety. HATS Group decided to switch to an upgraded solution to help them meet insurance demands and build a stronger safety program.

HATS Group partnered with Lytx^® and Geotab^® to deploy GO9 devices and Surfsight^® AI-12 dash cameras across their fleet for an initial trial period. The installation was strategically planned to minimise downtime, accommodating the round-the-clock operational needs of vehicles servicing busy hospitals, including those in Central London.

Gaining Real-Time Risk Insights

Post-installation, HATS Group’s primary focus was to reduce risky behaviours by addressing specific driver safety KPIs, such as seat belt and mobile phone usage. The in-cab cameras, equipped with machine vision and AI (MV+AI)^†, provided dual-facing lenses for real-time* monitoring of both road conditions and driver behaviour. Alerts notified drivers of safety violations, allowing them to self-correct in the moment, which was supported by in-cab coaching. This combination helped HATS Group reduce violations and take a proactive approach to driver training and incident management. The dash camera footage also became crucial evidence after road traffic incidents, aiding drivers and helping minimise claims.

With Geotab, I can now get a clearer picture of any incident which takes place with one of our vehicles and manage the associated risks better than I could have done before. The cameras, and the ease of access to that footage on the MyGeotab platform, make managing fleet risk so much easier.
Jon Trotter, Head of All Insurance, HATS Group

Additionally, HATS Group’s training department used Lytx Surfsight’s video footage and Geotab’s telematics data to address specific issues with drivers and improve performance, in a collaborative manner that has reinforced lasting change and boosted morale.  

Achieving a 96% Reduction in Incident Costs

Over the initial four-month trial period, implementing Lytx and Geotab solutions led to impressive safety improvements for HATS Group, including:

• 78% reduction in the frequency of road traffic incidents
• 96% reduction in the associated costs of those incident reductions
• 74% reduction in seat belt violations in the trial site

During this relatively short period of time, the technology proved to have a high degree of effectiveness in modifying driver behaviours and significantly reducing accident-related costs and claims. 

Beyond these immediate safety improvements, the solution provides comprehensive telematics data that allows for a deeper analysis of fleet operations. For example, an analysis of vehicle utilisation and patient wait times can identify areas for further operational efficiencies, such as reduced fuel consumption and lower vehicle emissions.

Looking to the Future 

Building on the current successes, HATS Group plans to delve deeper into the telematics data to enhance driving performance, as well as vehicle utilisation and maintenance. The next steps will include a fuller integration of fleet management activities, allowing for centralised control and more proactive planning to streamline operations and reduce costs.

HATS Group’s integration of Lytx and Geotab’s telematics system exemplifies how targeted technological solutions can effectively resolve complex operational challenges. The company has not only mitigated their risk factors to successfully lower insurance costs and better protect drivers but has enhanced their operational capabilities. The ongoing data analysis and planned expansions signify a forward-thinking approach to fleet management that other transport providers can look to as a benchmark.

For more information on how to improve fleet safety with a video-based telematics solution, contact us.