Joining forces with Together for Safer Roads (TSR), Geotab, an IoT and connected transportation company, is challenging its commercial fleet customers worldwide to reduce their speed in recognition of UN Global Road Safety Week, which runs May 17-23.

If the number of speed-related incidents amongst Geotab-connected fleets is reduced by 1% during this timeframe, Geotab will make a $25,000 donation to Together for Safer Road’s Vision Zero Technology Fund. The fund helps equip essential and not-for-profit fleets with safety technology.

To determine a benchmark for this challenge, Geotab compared speed-related data processed from Geotab-connected vehicles in May 2019 and May 2020 and discovered that the number of speed related incidents jumped by over 1%.

With that data as a backdrop, Geotab and TSR are urging commercial fleets to do their part to help reduce speed-related incidents to at least return to pre-COVID numbers.

Speeding remains a key factor contributing to crashes and fatalities globally. According to the CDC, 1.35 million people are killed on roadways around the world every year — and many of those deaths are due to drivers speeding. In the U.S., for example, 9,478 people lost their lives in speed-related collisions in 2019 alone. That translates into more than a quarter of all traffic fatalities in America.

Research shows that higher speeds increase the likelihood and severity of collisions. With its new challenge, Geotab and TDR aim to deter speeders.

In addition to slowing down, the partners urge fleet drivers to put down the phone, leave ample following distance from the vehicle ahead, and keep your vehicle in a state of good repair. By taking these steps, fleet drivers and all road users will be safer.