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Leading Transit Operator RATP Dev USA Deploys SmartDrive Video Program to Bolster Safety Across Transportation Agencies
After Competitive Review, SmartDrive Video-based Platform Selected to Support Compliance with Federal Transit Administration Safety Management System Requirements

SAN DIEGO, Sept. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- SmartDrive Systems, a leader in video-based safety and transportation intelligence, and RATP Dev USA, provider of best-in-class transit services to customers and their passengers, today announced that RATP Dev USA has deployed the SmartDrive® program to improve safety in agencies and support drive2zero™, RATP Dev's safety management system. RATP Dev USA selected the SmartDrive fully managed solution following a review of competitive systems, citing the quality of events captured, the value delivered by the subsequent analysis of those events, easy-to-use program dashboards and key performance indicators. These program features and benefits allow agency management to identify areas of success and opportunities for improvement.

Leading Transit Operator RATP Dev USA Deploys SmartDrive Video Program to Bolster Safety Across Transportation Agencies

RATP Dev USA transports more than 78 million passengers across the United States and operates a wide range of transportation services including, bus, urban or intercity rail lines, streetcar, and shuttle services. After a competitive review and impressed by the superior quality of SmartDrive Systems' services, RATP Dev USA immediately saw the benefits of the SmartDrive program and did not need to pilot. They elected to immediately begin to deploy the video-based safety and analytics solution across contracted agencies in support of its drive2Zero™ initiative, as well as ensure adherence with the requirements of the Federal Transit Administration's (FTA) Safety Management System (SMS).

"We appreciate SmartDrive's ability to quickly and efficiently identify coaching opportunities for us, which has enabled us to improve safety throughout our fleet," explained Michael Anderson, vice president of safety and security at RATP Dev USA. "The program allows us to proactively reduce incidents while allowing us to engage our operators so they understand where they can improve performance."

With a strong emphasis on coaching, the SmartDrive program reinforces RATP Dev USA's "just culture" approach, which aims to help operators improve fleet safety and operational efficiency by ensuring drivers, supervisors and managers learn from their mistakes and feel comfortable and confident in reporting safety-related incidents. As a result of effective coaching, RATP Dev USA has successfully improved its SmartDrive Safety Score by 79 percent and reduced risk throughout its fleet.

"SmartDrive is the golden nugget of our safety solution," commented Anderson. "Telematics may provide the 'what,' but the SmartDrive program provides the 'why.' Although you need to know what happened, it's critical to understand why an event has occurred so you can coach your drivers or praise them for a job well done."

A culture of safety is critical to RATP Dev USA's entire operation, with safety controls built into every aspect of the business. drive2Zero is the company's premiere program for building a sound safety culture and is comprised of four crucial components: safety policy, safety risk management, safety assurance and safety promotion. In addition to reducing risk by identifying coaching opportunities and preventing incidents, the SmartDrive program also provides the data necessary to ensure SMS compliance.

"Our drive2Zero solution provides the framework that drives our sound safety culture," continued Anderson. "We feel confident that SmartDrive will provide the data necessary to help us measure the effectiveness of our efforts necessary for the Safety Assurance pillar of SMS for all of our agencies. This is particularly important as SMS becomes mandated by the FTA in 2019."

Noting that the SmartDrive program also provides necessary contextual evidence to exonerate a driver wrongly accused in an accident, Patrick Manley, director of safety and security at RATP Dev USA, added, "Nothing else tells a better story than video. Video immediately exonerates a misunderstood situation and turns grey areas into black and white."

"RATP Dev USA embodies the type of company safety culture we champion at SmartDrive, and the company's decision aligns closely with other transit agencies' reasons for adopting our video safety program—the need to provide a great ride for passengers while protecting their safety and ensuring regulatory compliance," said Steve Mitgang, CEO of SmartDrive. "The managed service approach, coupled with triggered events, provides RATP Dev USA immediate insights to proactively mitigate risky driving. We look forward to continuing to work side by side with Michael and his team to drive best-in-class safety practices."

To learn more about how the SmartDrive program helps transit agencies improve safety and ensure SMS compliance, visit booth #504 at the APTA Annual Meeting, September 23-26.

About RATP Dev

Founded in 2002, RATP Dev operates and maintains urban transportation systems in 14 countries on four continents (United Kingdom, France, Italy, Switzerland, Algeria, Morocco, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, India, China, South Korea, the Philippines, and the United States of America). With more than 1.5 billion passengers traveling on its networks every year, RATP Dev demonstrates every day its extensive and renowned expertise in a wide range of mobility services, ranging from rail, regional express rail, tramway, to bus, cable car and sightseeing activities. RATP Dev leverages in France, outside of Paris, and across international markets the technical expertise and experience of RATP Group, the leader in driverless and tramway operations and operator of the Paris network, one of the largest public transportation networks in the world. In North America RATP Dev employs over 6,000 team members transporting more than 78 million passengers in 14 states and operates a wide range of services.
For more information on RATP Dev USA, please visit http://www.ratpdevnorthamerica.com

Contact or Follow RATP Dev USA on:
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/ratp-dev-north-america/

About SmartDrive Systems

SmartDrive Systems, the recipient of Frost & Sullivan's Customer Value Leadership Award for Video Safety Solutions, gives fleets and drivers unprecedented driving performance insight and analysis, helping save fuel, expenses and lives. Its video analysis, predictive analytics and personalized performance program help fleets improve driving skills, lower operating costs and deliver significant ROI. With an easy-to-use managed service, fleets and drivers can access and self-manage driving performance anytime, anywhere. The company, which is ranked as one of the fastest growing companies by Deloitte's Technology Fast 500™, has compiled the world's largest storehouse of more than 220 million analyzed risky-driving events. SmartDrive Systems is based in San Diego, Calif., and employs over 725 people worldwide. For more information on SmartDrive Systems, please visit www.smartdrive.net.

Contact or Follow SmartDrive on:
Email – tryuson@smartdrive.net
Facebook –  http://www.facebook.com/smartdrivesystemsinc
Twitter – http://www.twitter.com/smartdriveinc
YouTube – http://www.youtube.com/smartdrivesystemsinc
LinkedIn – http://www.linkedin.com/company/smartdrive-systems

 

SmartDrive logo (PRNewsFoto/SmartDrive Systems)

SOURCE SmartDrive Systems

For further information: Alessandra Gonzales, Carve Communications for RATP Dev USA, Alessandra@carvecomms.com, +1 786 337 3026; or Havas Formula for SmartDrive Systems, smartdrive@havasformula.com, 619-234-0345