South Yorkshire-based data management firm’s royal seal of approval

The Floow took home the Prince Michael International Road Safety Award in recognition of its telematics data management platform.

Company bosses picked up the award from Prince Michael of Kent, patron of the commission for Global Road Safety, at a formal ceremony on December 8.

Aldo Monteforte, founder and chief executive officer at The Floow, said: “We are truly honoured to be receiving the award in recognition of the contribution that our organisation has made to increasing awareness of driver behaviour, and how small changes to the way in which young people drive can make significant improvements to their safety on the roads.”

The company takes GPS and accelerometer data from telematics devices such as ‘black boxes’ or from a Smartphone in customers’ cars.

These devices enable The Floow to monitor driving behaviours including smooth driving, acceleration, braking, and speed in comparison to other road users on the same stretch of road. The Floow analyses this data to deliver bespoke online and app-based feedback to develop the driver’s insight on areas for improving safety after every journey.

The Floow received the award for work undertaken in collaboration with the UK’s largest insurer, Direct Line Group. Launched in 2014, and primarily focused at younger drivers, by the end of September 2015 over 67,000 drivers had embraced Direct Line DrivePlus telematics insurance and are making use of the feedback platform to become better drivers.

Tony Spalding, chairman of RoadSafe, the organisation behind the PMIRSA, recently visited The Floow’s Sheffield headquarters to meet with the 60-strong team of scientists, engineers, designers and support staff. He said the company’s technology has been “crucial” in changing driver behaviour for the better and making our roads safer.

He said: “The research needed to refine the all-important algorithms behind this innovation have been crucial in ensuring that it has changed driver behaviour and made our roads safer.”

Dan Freedman, of Direct Line, said: “The Floow sits at the heart of DLG’s successful telematics offer, bringing market leading capabilities in data integration, processing and analytics.

“We chose to work with The Floow because of their commitment to research evidence in the way driver behaviour is measured, monitored and used to provide feedback. The results thus far have been excellent and we look forward to continuing our journey with the Floow over the coming years.”