The Floow, a telematics company originally known for providing data to the insurance sector, has been granted accreditation to supply aggregated traffic and behavioural data in more than 140 countries, the firm said.
Accreditation and research links
The green light comes from AiRAP, a data accreditation programme run by the International Road Assessment Programme (iRAP), a charity focused on eliminating high‑risk roads and saving lives. The Floow said the accreditation is a "direct result" of its participation in the Horizon Europe research and funding programme.
"Our participation in Horizon Europe has played an important role in helping us expand our capabilities beyond insurance telematics, working alongside leading organisations across Europe to develop new approaches to mobility and road safety analytics," said Dr Sam Chapman, co‑founder and director of The Floow.
The company explained that its technology analyses billions of miles of mobility data collected from opt‑in connected vehicles, smartphones and telematics devices. That data, originally developed for insurance use, has been adapted to produce insights on driving behaviour, crash risk and wider mobility patterns.
From insurance telematics to public road‑safety programmes
The Floow said the accreditation allows its aggregated datasets to be used in road‑safety programmes worldwide, turning raw mobility streams into actionable intelligence for interventions.
- Data sources: opt‑in connected vehicles, smartphones and telematics devices.
- Analytical scope: driving behaviour, crash risk and mobility patterns.
- Geographical reach: authorised to supply data in more than 140 countries.
The firm pointed to previous public‑sector initiatives that combine iRAP road ratings with behavioural data. The UK Department for Transport's Safer Roads Fund — launched in 2016 and informed by iRAP ratings and real‑world behavioural evidence — is cited as an example. That programme is estimated to prevent 2,700 deaths and serious injuries, deliver £1.25 billion in prevented‑loss value over 20 years and generate £5.30 in societal benefit for every £1 invested, The Floow noted.
Implications for South Africa and similar contexts
South Africa faces high levels of road fatalities and road infrastructure challenges. While The Floow's announcement does not refer specifically to South African contracts or pilots, the company said its analytical approach can be applied to road‑safety programmes globally. Policymakers, road authorities and agencies involved in road engineering, enforcement and public health may use such aggregated telemetry to target interventions where crash risk and dangerous driving behaviours are most prevalent.
Experts and practitioners in other countries have used combinations of infrastructure risk ratings and behavioural data to prioritise limited resources and measure the likely return on investment for safety upgrades. The Floow described the Safer Roads Fund as demonstrating "the power of combining robust data with evidence‑led intervention."
What the accreditation means practically
According to The Floow, the accreditation permits the company to supply aggregated analytics — not individual driving records — meaning data privacy and aggregation standards are part of the AiRAP framework. The company emphasised that its work builds on opt‑in data collected under consented arrangements.
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Data reach | More than 140 countries |
| Primary data inputs | Connected vehicles, smartphones, telematics devices (opt‑in) |
| Intended use | Road‑safety programmes, mobility analytics, crash‑risk assessment |
For South African authorities and transport planners, internationally accredited datasets could offer another evidence layer to complement local crash statistics, road audits and community‑level research. However, the practical value will depend on availability of local opt‑in data, interoperability with existing systems and the capacity of agencies to translate insights into engineering and enforcement measures.
The Floow presented the accreditation as part of a broader shift: using large‑scale mobility analytics outside insurance markets to inform public policy and targeted road‑safety investment. As countries and cities seek to reduce deaths and serious injuries on their roads, accredited providers and international frameworks such as iRAP may play an increasingly prominent role in shaping priorities and measuring potential impacts.
