A new forecourt alert service called Pinpoint has been launched to take the stress out of refuelling for disabled motorists.
Developed by Contacta Incisive Solutions, which is headed up by London 7/7 bombing survivor Daniel Biddle, Pinpoint uses a two-way radio frequency for petrol station staff to be alerted as soon as a disabled customer drives onto the forecourt.
The motorist activates a Pinpoint key fob and participating forecourts will be alerted by a Pinpoint receiver in the shop. Once a member of staff responds, the unit on the forecourt will flash green, notifying the driver that someone is coming out to help them.
The technology has been trialled by Sainsbury’s Springfield Petrol Station in Essex, as well as the supermarket’s forecourts in Purley Way, London, and Tunbridge Wells in Kent.
One hundred members of Disabled Motoring UK were nominated to test the system, and 90% of them rated the overall experience eight out of 10 or higher.
“Pinpoint is a cost-effective way of improving independent motoring for disabled drivers,” said Biddle. “The feedback has been excellent, with users saying things like ‘brilliant idea, I hope it comes to all petrol stations as it’s invaluable to a wheelchair user’; and ‘an excellent drive to take the stress out of refuelling’.”
The system is wireless so requires little installation, and costs £300 for a receiver unit, response pack and one key fob for forecourt staff to test the system with.
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