Reynolds (UK) Entire Fleet Deploys SmartDrive(TM)


LONDON, July 25 -- SmartDrive Systems Inc(TM), a leader in driver risk management systems and services, is pleased to announce today that Waltham Cross based Reynolds Catering Supplies Limited, one of the UK's leading independent distributors of fresh produce and chilled goods, will equip its entire UK fleet with SmartDrive's system.

Reynolds has been using SmartDrive's high-tech video-capture hardware and professional incident review service since January 2007. The initial pilot project was funded by Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Limited UK, the first such motor vehicle underwriter funded project in the UK. "This is SmartDrive's first full fleet conversion in the UK. This project has been unique and challenging from the beginning, as we've had the motor vehicle underwriter for the client involved. There have been a lot of eyes on the system and I'm pleased that the benefits were clear and justified a full fleet conversion", according to Scott Raske, Managing Director for SmartDrive in Europe.

"SmartDrive's system has clearly had a positive impact on our drivers' behaviour, resulting in fewer collisions, less mystery damage and overall safer driving", says Martin Wood, Head of Distribution, Reynolds. "Reynolds wants to protect its drivers and the public and SmartDrive helps us do both. The system allows us to provide feedback to our drivers, based upon their actual driving behaviour. When they see themselves actually doing something on video, not only do they accept responsibility, they will most likely refrain from such behaviour in the future". The Reynolds Catering fleet of vehicles includes depots in Manchester, the Midlands, Bristol and Scotland.

The deal was the first of its kind in the UK, as SmartDrive, Reynolds, Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance and Marsh UK, worked jointly to structure a program that was appropriate and cost effective for Reynolds. "Mitsui Sumitomo is very supportive of SmartDrive's revolutionary technology. We believe it can improve the risk profile of our clients, allowing us to link it to the underwriting cover we provide. The benefits of the system which were demonstrated in the pilot should clearly have a much larger impact when the entire fleet is equipped", according to Marc Wanless, Motor Vehicle Underwriter at Mitsui Sumitomo.

The SmartDrive in-vehicle unit is mounted behind the rearview mirror and consists of two, tiny cameras: one camera pointing forward, one pointing at the driver. SmartDrive is continuously recording, so driving activities are recorded and saved 15 seconds before the event and 15 seconds after it. The SmartDrive system also features multiple panic buttons, which allow the driver to record and document the behaviors or incidents of other drivers or passengers.

Based in San Diego, with a presence in the Europe, SmartDrive mitigates fleet risk by improving driver behavior and providing clients with easy to access and meaningful data to review. By combining sight and sound, event analysis and driver remediation, SmartDrive's automated event recorder (AER) technology and associated web-based service can reduce vehicle collisions and mystery damage by up to 50 percent. Customers include enterprises with small- to mid-size fleets (e.g. food distribution, ambulances, motor coaches, and taxi companies) and large fleets with 500+ vehicles (e.g. school bus, utility, waste management, logistics, courier, utility and transit companies).

For more information, please visit the SmartDrive website: www.smartdrive.net/.

Source: SmartDrive Systems Inc.

CONTACT:
Graham Ledger,
+1-858-531-8949,
graham.ledger@SmartDrive.net,
or Scott Raske,
+44-795-041-8936,
scott.raske@smartdrive.net,
both of SmartDrive Systems Inc.

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