Dash cams provide fleet managers real-time views inside and outside of their vehicles. Both provide significant help in improving fleet risk management, one of the most important aspects of a successfully managed fleet.
Connected dash cams improve driver safety, reduce the number of accidents and ultimately save lives. That’s important as the number of accidents have been increasing in recent years, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. They also note that one in every three long-haul truck drivers have been in a serious truck accident in their career.
Using in-cabin and forward facing dash cameras gives fleet managers opportunities to improve fleet risk management by providing insight into a driver’s behavior and important context and information when accidents occur.
The Benefits of Dash Cams
Dash camera systems come in different formats, but typically break down into two overall categories. The first are in-cabin cameras that focus on the driver. The other are outward-facing cameras that record what is happening outside a vehicle.
In-Cabin Cameras
In-cabin cameras have quickly become the normal for many fleets. When connected with innovative software systems, these cameras provide support in areas that improve fleet risk management. They include the following.
Driver behavior. Cameras monitor driver behavior, providing a real-time view to fleet managers inside the cabin. They also work as part of a system that alerts drivers when they engage in unsafe driving behaviors or become distracted.
Driver real-time coaching. In addition to the real-time alerts, dash cams also play a central role in automated systems determining the type of coaching a driver needs to improve their safety record.
Fleet training programs. By reviewing historical footage of driver performance, fleet managers can develop personalized training that addresses each individual driver’s needs. They also can be useful in setting up a rewards system for good driving.
Forward-Facing Dash Cam
It’s possible to get dash cam systems with as many as six cameras covering the entire outside of the vehicle. Two of the most important are the forward-facing and back-up cams, as they can provide extremely important context about accidents after they happen.
That’s important for assessing whether a truck driver or another driver is at fault in an accident. Video footage also can provide information on events leading up to the accident, while other telematics systems can provide data about the vehicle, such as its speed and when brakes were applied.
Outward-facing cameras also play a role in blind spot monitoring, lane departure warnings and in automated systems that track the distance between a truck and other vehicles.
All these advantages are important not only for driver safety, but also for reducing costs when accidents are not the fault of the driver. It’s an important area because the average cost of a large truck crash is $91,000, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. That makes improving fleet risk management imperative. Leveraging the power of dash cams helps managers achieve that goal.
