A quick google search involving the words “Driver” and “Phone” and “Accident” will lead you down a rabbit trail of videos and articles all showing drivers on phones causing, or being involved in vehicle accidents. In 2018 a video was released of an in-cab camera recording that showed a tram driver in Russia on her phone, and consequently colliding her moving tram into a stationary one, sending a passenger in the tram flying.
The continuing rise of distracted driving incidents has prompted a growing trend of dash and in-cab cameras as safety assurances.
Dash Cams are recording devices that sit on the dash of a vehicle, and record imagery from outside of the vehicle. This includes traffic, road conditions, weather conditions, and unpredictable circumstances such as animals on roadways. Dash cam footage is useful for determining the cause of incidents, determining the fault of accidents, and reviewing infraction details.
In-Cab Cams are recording devices that aim towards the inside of the vehicle, monitoring drivers and circumstances inside of the vehicle. This footage is useful for reviewing driver habits, catching safety hazards such as distracted driving, and even observing vehicle thefts and damages caused by break ins.
Together with a fleet GPS tracking solution, these three items become a security trifecta for safer fleet telematics.
The two cameras work together to create safer driving. They do this by providing three things. Accountability, Visibility, and Insurance.
Accountability
Keeping an eye on your driver may seem a bit invasive at first, but it’s quite the opposite. By seeing what’s going on inside of the cab of a vehicle you can monitor safety concerns such as distracted driving, health events, and in cases such as public transport, passenger behaviour.
This keeps drivers on their best behaviour, and off of cell phones. This makes passengers think twice about doing damage to a vehicle, or assaulting another passenger or the driver. And, it allows employers to see events unfold in the case of a medical emergency. If a driver has an accident, which was caused by a heart attack, the video footage can reveal life saving information.
Visibility
In the case of dash cams, visibility is the key benefit. The footage captured can reveal erratic driving from not only your own vehicle, but the traffic around it. If a complaint is called in about a driver following too closely, the video can be reviewed for accuracy and training purposes.
Insurance
This may be the most significant key for both in-cab and dash cams. The ability to prove what happened in visual verification. If a vehicle is in an accident, this footage could save your company thousands of dollars in tickets, legal fees, and damages.
Being able to prove that your driver was in the right, or in the wrong, goes a long way towards a safer, healthier, more cost effective fleet. Being able to see if your long haul driver nodded off at the wheel before he hit the ditch, or if your delivery van swerved to avoid hitting a pedestrian who stepped out unexpectedly, or if your manager really did park in the tow away zone can be crucial for legal and fleet training purposes.
Your fleet is under constant surveillance by the public eye. There’s nothing people love more than to point a finger at your logo and say you did something wrong. With all those eyes pointed in your direction, don’t you think it’s time you had your own on it, too?