How dashcams work to improve fleet safety and performance

What is a dashcam? 

Dashcams, or dashboard cameras are cameras installed within the cab of vehicles to accurately record driving events. Usually, they are forward facing to give a view out the front of the windscreen, the same as what the driver would see. Some dashcams have two cameras with the second facing the driver, showing a view of the driver while they are driving.

While the forward-facing cameras are usually recording at all times, driver facing cams have options to be activated only by harsh events, coaching, or similar depending on how they are set up.

Dashcams are installed in vehicles for a number of reasons including defending your company from fraudulent claims, exonerating drivers over harsh events, driver training and coaching, and positive reinforcement.

 

Risk management

Video recordings that provide a clear, accurate history of driving events work to protect your drivers, your company, and your reputation. Recordings can be viewed on-screen together with information such as speed, left or right turning, brakes applied, G-forces, location, and more. This provides a clear picture of what really happened, and allows you to take exonerate drivers and/or appropriate action to reduce the risk of such events happening again. This also helps to identify areas where drivers may need further training.

These recordings can also provide footage for insurance claims to show what really happened. No longer do you have to rely on ‘he said, she said’ scenarios.

 

Amplified coaching

Using dashcams as part of your driver safety program is a surefire way to increase the skills of your drivers. Regardless of how experienced your team are they can always learn something new, or use it as a refresher.

Use the dashcam to live stream drivers on the road, giving you the experience of being there in the cab with them in real time. You can assess the skills and techniques of your drivers and see which areas they may need further coaching in. The real-time personalization of this feedback will help to further encourage safe driving.

The remote nature of using dashcams for driver coaching means that managers can coach multiple drivers in a short period of time. This means all of your drivers will receive the same high level of training and be equally safe on the roads.

 

Driver scoring and positive reinforcement

Dashcams can be used to create systems to celebrate and reward good driving practice. Driver scoring and gamification can be used to get drivers involved, with the aim for them to get as few points as possible. Drivers are given points each time a harsh event occurs, picked up by on-board accelerometers and reviewed with dashcam footage. The amount of points given to each event can be decided on by management, dependent on severity. These could include such events as harsh cornering, braking, and acceleration and can change depending on whether a truck is loaded or not. Rewards and celebrations should be given out to the drivers with the lowest amount of points to encourage your team to take part and be as safe as possible on the roads.

Take a look here to find out more about how Coretex CoreVision dashcams can increase safety and performance in your fleet.