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Last update - 01:44 03/07/2008 IDF proves link between crazy driving, gas guzzling By Yoav Kaveh Tags: Traffilog, Israel, fuel, IDF Electronic monitoring boxes have been installed in 500 cars used by the Israel Air Force and ground force corps over the past 18 months, in the largest experiment ever conducted here or anywhere else in the world on the correlation between driver behavior and fuel consumption. The "black boxes," manufactured by Traffilog, precisely monitor driving characteristics such as acceleration, braking, turns, engine revolutions per minute and oil pressure. Driving aberrations - such as highway driving speed exceeding 120 kph - trigger an 'alarm' in the form of a text message to a cellular phone or email the to commander in charge, the parameters of which are defined by the commanders themselves. Usually, offending drivers become aware of the alarm only after it has been passed along. Although a few soldiers have attempted to disconnect the monitor's electrical wiring and fuses, most accept the monitors. The very presence of monitors has affected soldiers' driving style. Most of them, it turns out, have begun driving in a more moderate way. Advertisement The results are reflected in an average saving of 14% in fuel consumption. And that is a potentially enormous cost saver. The 500 cars use about 2 million liters of fuel annually, and lowering consumption by 14% means a saving of 280,000 liters of fuel. The monitor is to be installed in another few thousand vehicles in the Israel Defense Forces over the coming months. Traffilog was founded in 2003 by Robert Izraeli and Adi Amihai. The Traffilog system monitors all characteristics of driving and of the vehicle itself though a sensor that measures multidirectional acceleration, and allows analysis of acceleration, braking and revolutions. The system also includes a global position system (GPS) attached to a database of maps, which enables precise positioning, including the driving lane - providing the ability to analyze whether the driver has been speeding on a particular section of the road. The system also interfaces with computers installed in the vehicle itself and collects parameters such as fuel consumption and temperature. The system's unique software analyzes all of the data and draws conclusions on the driver's behavior. Traffilog's Israel operation manager, Yoav Megged, relates the difficulties involved in getting the monitor installed in high-tech companies in Israel. "At this point in time," he says, "when demand for quality human resources is greater than supply, the managers of companies are wary of employees protesting or quitting, and refuse to install our system." On the other hand, Traffilog monitors has been marketed successfully to trucking companies. Jafora-Tabori, which maintains more than 100 trucks, has managed with the help of the system to reduce driver aggressiveness dramatically, saving an average of 12% in fuel costs since the system was installed, or about NIS 2.5 million annually, that's 300,000 liters of fuel. The company's management has decided to use the monitoring results more as a basis for incentives for good and economical drivers, and less for sanctions against aggressive and wasteful drivers, by offering outstanding drivers flight tickets for overseas vacation once a month. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Video attack West Bank settlers tie Palestinian man to phone pole and beat him. A static future Iran's nuclear program remains unchanged despite economic incentives.   1.   Install this in every track and cab in Israel and you will save 08:59  |  AA 04/07/08   2.   Driving aberrations - such as highway driving speed exceding 120 10:42  |  Simone 04/07/08   3.   how the idf can save on gas 03:34  |  wibism 05/07/08   4.   wibism 17:37  |  rob 05/07/08   5.   monitoring excessive lane changing 10:24  |  Bruno 06/07/08

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