SafeDrivePod is a tech company with a social mission
With smart technology, we want to make sure everyone gets home safely
From a Sunday bike ride to a company with global ambitions
By chance, our founders Erik Damen and Paul Hendriks first speak to each other about road safety while both actively participating in traffic. During a bike ride on a Sunday in 2016, the conversation turns to distractions in traffic caused by smartphones. A serious, global problem that costs not only a lot of money every day, but even lives. Why do we all seem to accept this reality, and why are its consequences and frequency only increasing? Erik and Paul find each other in this topic and together they will search for a real solution to this global problem.
A technical solution to a problem created by technology
Preventive solutions such as campaigns with an imperative tone and a pointing finger, or repressive solutions such as sky-high fines and stricter controls simply don't do enough. This has been the case for years. Despite the seriousness of the problem, it does not seem to be changing. There needs to be a solution where technology no longer facilitates undesirable but rather desirable behaviour. The challenge is clear: How can we make the smartphone only play a desirable role in traffic? The solution also quickly presents itself: technology that ensures that the driver's smartphone use while driving the vehicle is automatically restricted. What is left are navigation capabilities and hands-free controls that are within the confines of the law.
Switching fast and operating independently
A chain of technology is needed. A solution with the lowest possible acceptance threshold for end users. No hardware and software that is difficult to install and operate, but a simple, effective and above all unobtrusive total solution. To be able to switch quickly and operate as independently as possible, a combination of knowledge and skills must be brought in house to make hardware, embedded software and an app yourself. This soon succeeds, and in the same year that Paul and Erik meet, SafeDrivePod is a reality. With a small core team, SafeDrivePod releases a functional, ready-to-market version as early as November 2016.
The individual road user is the key to road safety
With a focus on the business market, SafeDrivePod is trying to get its solutions on the ground as quickly as possible. But of course, it can't stop there. The more widely safety-enhancing technologies are adopted, the faster we can all save lives. After all, that is the stakes. Beyond unboarding drivers of commercial vehicles, or vehicles driven on behalf of an organisation, there are huge, highly impactful strides to be made in road safety in the consumer market. Our mission is not only a conviction, but also our deepest wish. With this market broadening as our commitment, insurers and the leasing and rental market now also fall within our target market. The greater our reach, the greater the chance that ultimately, truly everyone will get home safely after every trip.
International awards and recognition
With the release of their solution in 2016, SafeDrivePod is immediately noticed: they win Fleet Europe's Fleet Industry Award, and in January 2017 the first customer is connected. less than a year later, a deal with Volkswagen Financial Services follows, to equip 50,000 leased cars with SafeDrivePod. The same year sees the Fleet Safety Award from Brake, the UK road safety organisation. Later in the year, SafeDrivePod takes to the stage as a finalist at the International Road Transport Union's Startup Competition in Oman during a global conference.
Not distracted by quick success
The recognition for the hard work is wonderful, but of course this is far from completing the mission. A new version will follow in 2019, with upgraded hardware enabling a host of new features. To increase its clout, SafeDrivePod will become part of AutoBinck Group in 2020. Later that year, it will follow a development with more focus on solutions that can map road behaviour without infringing on the privacy of individual drivers. This product broadening continues into 2021, when SafeDrivePod competes as a finalist for the Automotive Innovation Award. A wide range of complementary features is emerging. Each of these is aimed at structurally reducing the safety risks, costs and environmental impact of daily road traffic. Crash detection is the latest addition to our product lineup, in the form of SafeDriveResponse.
The individual road user is the key to road safety
With a focus on the business market, SafeDrivePod is trying to get its solutions on the ground as quickly as possible. But of course, it can't stop there. The more widely safety-enhancing technologies are adopted, the faster we can all save lives. After all, that is the stakes. Beyond unboarding drivers of commercial vehicles, or vehicles driven on behalf of an organisation, there are huge, highly impactful strides to be made in road safety in the consumer market. Our mission is not only a conviction, but also our deepest wish. With this market broadening as our commitment, insurers and the leasing and rental market now also fall within our target market. The greater our reach, the greater the chance that ultimately, truly everyone will get home safely after every trip.