Understanding GPS Drift in Vehicle Tracking Systems

In this article, we will discuss "GPS drift" in vehicle tracking systems, its impact on driver reports, and suggest focusing on overall driver scores for accurate assessments rather than individual inaccurate events.

Understanding GPS Drift

What is GPS Drift?

• GPS drift occurs when a vehicle's journey involves overlapping roads or areas with poor GPS signals, such as tunnels or multi-storey car parks.
• This phenomenon is an inherent part of GPS technology and cannot be entirely prevented.
• When the system fails to secure an exact location, it might incorrectly register events like speeding.

Impact on Driver Reports

• Incorrectly registered events due to GPS drift can be disregarded.
• BigChange systems have built-in features to remove such events from individual driver behaviour reports.
• Removal of these events leads to a recalculation of driver scores, excluding the inaccurate events.

Frequency of GPS Drift

• GPS drift is relatively rare considering the miles travelled versus the number of occurrences.
• Users of GPS-based applications on mobile phones or tablets might have noticed similar inaccuracies, especially in areas with poor GPS signals.

Focusing on Overall Driver Scores

Why Focus on Overall Scores?

• Assessing drivers based on their overall score over a period of time provides a more accurate reflection of their behaviour.
• This approach enables a fair judgement and helps in identifying areas for improvement.

Benefits of Using Driver Behaviour Reports

• Driver Behaviour reports can be used as a tool for improvement.
• Instead of focusing on specific instances, it is more beneficial to look at the overall performance.
• This method provides a comprehensive view of a driver's behaviour, leading to more accurate assessments.

Conclusion

In summary, GPS drift is an inherent part of GPS technology and can lead to inaccurate events being registered. However, BigChange systems have features to remove such events from driver reports, ensuring fair assessments. By focusing on overall driver scores rather than individual events, users can obtain a more accurate reflection of driver behaviour and identify areas for improvement.