Speeding is a huge problem, both economically and liability-wise and the majority of business owners just don’t seem to want to recognize the fact that they are in a very exposed position.

When I first installed a GPS tracking system on vehicles of a government entity who, among other responsibilities transported and controlled neuclear weapons, our first “proof of concept” installations were monitored by a general officer who was sitting with me in their command center, watching his new system. We observed a convoy of several GPS-equipped vehicles who seemed to be running 20 mph over their operational speed limit. The general questioned the system’s accuracy with the standard comment, “my folks wouldn’t do that”.

The system had a text-messaging feature, so I texted the lead vehicle and queried “What’s your speed”? They never responded, as if they never received the message, but the speed on the next report was 20 mph lower.

In general, a company can expect a 20 mph average reduction in their net fleet speeds … if they know those speeds without GPS. Drivers just tend go faster than management ever suspects.