accidents and subsequent settlements can be a major expense to organizations with vehicle fleets. Electronic equipment in the mobile workforce environment adds to the probability of driver distraction and subsequent accident possibly.

VuLock® was designed specifically for fleet use and is exclusively provided by Mobile Mounting Solutions. The product is covered by U.S. Patent 7,064,656 and other Patents that are pending. 

What are the Facts about Driver Distraction? 
When driving their fleet vehicle, field service personnel and technicians often deal with an onslaught of information that can divert their attention from their primary task of driving. As your fleet transitions to handle work orders, CAD files and other information with mobile computers, these drivers now have the temptation to watch the computer screen in addition to observing and reacting to weather, road, vehicle and traffic conditions. The number one cause of on-the-job-deaths is traffic crashes. According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Association (NHTSA), on-the-job-vehicle accidents cause 3,000 deaths per year; 332,000 injuries; and cost employers over $43 billion each year. The NHTSA believes that distracted drivers pose safety risks for themselves as well as the walking and motoring public. For example, the New England Journal of Medicine published a study of 699 collisions involving vehicles that had cell phones. The conclusion was that the risk of a collision is four times higher when the driver is using a cell phone. While no definite studies have been reported that address the use of computers while driving, it is prudent to predict that the risk exceeds that of using a cell phone. In fact, at least two states (California and Illinois) have enacted laws that prohibit the use of computers and video displays in the front seat area of a vehicle unless the device has an interlock to prevent use while the vehicle is in motion. Employers need to recognize the potential liability they face when they provide employees with cell phones and computers as required tools when the vehicle is their primary office space. 

Why is VuLock® the Answer? 
VuLock reduces distraction-induced accidents by preventing the driver from reading the computer screen while they are driving the vehicle. By using GPS to detect motion and speed, VuLock® blanks the screen and locks the keyboard when the vehicle is moving. This disabling occurs without interfering with normal processing or external communications. For example, work orders can still be downloaded and emergency alerts can still be heard and seen on the screen. Full capabilities are seamlessly restored once the vehicle is in a ‘stop’ position or shifted into ‘Park’. A timeout delay is used to prevent the screen from disappearing/appearing in stop-and-go traffic. VuLock® is financially attractive to companies that already have GPS receivers deployed in their vehicles as, usually, the GPS output can be shared by more than one application. 

Standard Software Features
VuLock® includes a ‘silent’ batch install program that allows for remote installs without having to reboot the computer. The software runs in the background (like a screen-saver program) and does not interfere with other active computer applications. The set-up program allows the user to select the communications port that VuLock® is plugged into. The following features can be customized: 

• Blank screen (displaying only the company message and logo)

• Freeze last screen displayed 

• Select gear or speed mode 

• Timeout delay duration 

• Alert processing allows emergency screens to be viewed 
  

Safeguard Features
VuLock® also provides safeguards to prevent tampering with the system and to encourage safe practices. If the GPS cable is unplugged or the computer is undocked at any speed other than zero velocity the software is designed to disable the computer. 

Standard Reporting

Event Log: The event log is a utility program designed to monitor various dynamic vehicle events. It logs the number of docks/undocks and the vehicle velocity at the time of the undocks. It also any disconnects of the GPS cable and the time and duration of block/unblock events. In addition, the event logs records: 

• Host computer name 

• Windows version 

• VuLock® program start and stop 

Trip Report: The trip report shows date, start/stop time, distance traveled, time at idle, and maximum speed for each trip made during a 24-hour day.

VuLock® is covered by U.S. Patent 7,064,656