Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming truck driver and road safety by confronting one of the most critical challenges in transportation: driver fatigue.Powerf leet Africa general manager Stephen Sutherland said the stark reality of road safety was that driver fatigue was a leading cause of road accidents and most drivers experienced some level of fatigue during long hauls. According to the Road Traffic Management Corporation, 12 000 people are killed in road crashes every year in South Africa and fatigue and distraction contribute to roughly 24% of heavy vehicle road accidents. Sutherland demonstrated how the company’s AI solution went far beyond traditional monitoring methods by analysing live data from videos taken in the truck cabin to assess the level of fatigue and risk of each driver.“What the AI does is it’s busy digesting about 580 different data points every single second, all the time,” said Sutherland.The technology creates a comprehensive risk profile by examining multiple factors that contribute to driver fatigue. “If I’m a driver and I’m mildly fatigued but I’m on a straight road and there’s no traffic and it’s a nice, clear day you generally find it’s a lot less risky than if I was fatigued and I’m driving in heavy traffic, or the road is not marked so well,” he said.Unlike traditional monitoring systems, this AI-powered solution doesn’t just collect data – it interprets it in real-time. The system tracks everything, from driver physical condition to external driving conditions, creating a dynamic risk assessment that can predict potential safety issues before they become critical. He said the system had led to a 60% reduction in collisions.“We’re also seeing an 84% improvement in driver safety scores, a 25% reduction in June 2025 Road & Rail 9SUBSCRIBE FREEAI game-changer combats driver fatigueFN25J0383STRADEMORE & GTWSERVICESTanker Wash SevicesDiesel RefuellingGERMISTONSOUTH AFRICATrademore offers secure parking and convenient diesel refuelling fortrucks, while GTW delivers expert tanker and fleet wash services.+27 82 579 7839Parking and Refuellingwww.trademoregroup.co.zaVisit Our WebsiteCONTACT USFOR DETAILSWash. Park. Rest. Refuel. Secure Overnight ParkingState of the Art Facilities+27 74 218 1261Tanker WashingFN25J0387Sinsurance costs and a 10 to one return on investment,” Sutherland said.However, he said technology could not operate in isolation, which was why Powerf leet had developed a Unity Operation Centre that combined AI insights with human intervention. “We cannot work in isolation and it also is not something that you can completely outsource,” said Sutherland.He said the system could alert operators to high-risk situations, allowing for immediate intervention.“Sometimes you need that human element to talk you off the ledge, especially as a driver who’s tired.”The technology is particularly crucial given the challenging nature of South African road conditions. “Most drivers, especially on South African roads, have some level of fatigue.”He added that the system allowed for unprecedented sc a labilit y. “You can manage 20 drivers, 100 drivers, 2 000 drivers, because you’re only looking at those for which that particular profile demands attention.”He said the technology offered more than just risk mitigation – it provided a comprehensive approach to understanding and preventing driver fatigue, potentially saving lives and reducing operational costs for f leet operators. LC
