“Why do we accept road traffic accidents as an inevitability? Technology is there to make things better.  We should use it.” These are the words of RoboValley start-up,  SD-Insights’ Guido Sluijsmans. It may be a cliché to describe the founder of a mobility startup as driven but this is precisely the word for Guido, an engineer-cum-research-cum-entrepreneur who recognised the opportunity to use software as a means of improving driving behaviour and built a start-up around this.

NEXTdriver is the name of the resulting app, which encourages better driving behaviour through gamification. The app compliments safe and fuel-efficient driving and coaches drivers so that they iron out bad habits such as harsh breaking or idling. 500 drivers of heavy goods vehicles are already using it.

“Results so far show that fleets making use of NEXTdriver save between 2 and 8 % on fuel. Insurance brokers tell us that our technology leads to a 30 % decrease in accidents.” – Guido Sluijsmans, CEO SD-Insights

Now it’s SD-Insights turn to be rewarded for their good behaviour. The start-up and has been shortlisted for the Dutch National Traffic Safety Award in the ‘Risks in Focus’ category. Winners will be announced at a conference next month, where they will be given the chance to deliver a three minute pitch – something which founder, Guido Sluijsmans seems well-prepared for.

“Lorry drivers are obliged by law to complete 35 hours of driver training every five years. Research shows that the positive impact of such training is relatively short lived. Old habits are hard to break and in as little as three to six months, drivers go back to their old ways.” In contrast, the app continuously coaches drivers. “Results so far show that fleets making use of NEXTdriver save between 2 and 8 % on fuel. Insurance brokers tell us that our technology leads to a 30 % decrease in accidents.”

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