This week, Vigil Systems commenced a joint collaboration project with QUT’s Centre for Accident Research and Road Safety, focused on the competencies of four wheel drive (4WD) and sedan drivers. Road crashes cost the Australian community an estimated $15 billion pa (3% of GDP), and 4WD vehicles are two and a half times more likely to be involved in fatal crashes than other vehicles. 4WDs are often pictured as dangerous, environmentally unfriendly and inadequate for urban roads. The project aims to reduce driver accident rates by building on the functionality of the VigilVanguard Driver Training System, linking it closely to driving competencies.

The project, which is primarily funded by the Australian Research Council, is the result of contributions from Vigil Systems, Murcotts Driving Excellence and Q-Fleet. The project will develop and evaluate a novel cost-effective Driver Training Assessment Tool (DTAT), based on VigilVanguard, which assists driving instructors to train and assess inexperienced drivers. DTAT will build on the VigilVanguard to allow contextualised, personalised and detailed assessment and feedback which is currently lacking from traditional driving programs. DTAT aims to reduce crashes by improving driver competencies.

The project will run for approximately 3 years.