Decades ago, dashboard cameras were mainly used on police cars and public transit buses. However, they are now popular and are used on cars, sports cars, semi-trucks, vans, and commercial fleets. If you are a commercial fleet owner or manager, recording traffic incidents, tracking, and monitoring the trucks or vans is necessary, which is why you need to invest in dash cams. Read on to learn seven reasons why you need to use dash cams on your commercial fleets.
1. Allows for live monitoring
As a commercial fleet owner or manager, knowing where your vehicles are at different times is essential. You may also want to know if your drivers are using the proper routes or whether or not they are driving safely on the highways. A dash cam will help you track and monitor your fleets in real-time.
The information you get from the live videos and recordings can also help you manage the fleets. For instance, you can send warning letters to drivers making simple mistakes on the road or dismiss careless drivers risking their lives and putting your business at risk.
2. Protects you against fraud
Vehicle crashes on U.S. roads caused at least 20,000 deaths in the in the first six months of 2021. However, besides the real crashes, there were many reported staged accidents involving commercial vehicles. Your company can be a victim of stage-managed accidents, and you may be required to pay a lot of money for faked personal injuries and other damages. With an advanced fleet dash cam, you will be protected from fraudsters. The device will record footage of all traffic incidents involving your fleets.
3. Provide evidence to support insurance claims
It is difficult to get a settlement after a truck accident without enough evidence. You need to gather evidence that proves that your driver was not at fault for the accident. If you do not have conclusive proof, your settlement may be delayed, or you may not get it in the end.
If you have a dashboard camera on the truck involved in the crash, you will get video recordings to support your claim. The insurance company will view the video footage and come up with a favorable judgment. This will ensure you get a fair settlement sooner.
4. Enhance driver training
New or inexperienced drivers in your team need training. They may be through with their driving classes, but they need in-depth insights to improve their driving skills. Footages from your dashboard cams can be used to train them.
Both seasoned and trainee drivers can learn from dash cam recordings of different road situations and scenarios without getting on the road. This will enlighten them on what to do in such situations. Additionally, the drivers can watch their trip video replays, which will help them identify mistakes they made and make necessary improvements.
5. Promotes safer driving
Safe driving enhances the quality of services offered by your truck drivers. It also helps your business avoid costly accidents. With the best dash cams on your commercial fleets, your drivers will drive more carefully, knowing that you monitor the vehicles.
In addition, dash cams make it easier to identify overspeeding and careless drivers. You can tell them to drive safely, which will help you save on fuel and reduce the risk of being involved in road accidents.
6. You can get discounts on insurance policy charges
Most insurance companies offer discounts to companies that have installed dashboard cams on their commercial trucks. Insurers acknowledge that dash cams will encourage safe driving. Additionally, dash cams provide evidence essential in solving insurance claim cases.
Research to know if your insurance provider offers discounts to companies with dash cams on their fleets. If they do not, look for a company offering discounts to ensure you save money in the long run.
7. Advanced dash cams come with high-tech features
The latest dashboard cameras with GPS and Wi-Fi features will help new drivers find their destination. In addition, some dash cams have lane departure features that can alert the driver when drifting out of their lane. Dashboard cams can also record exciting scenes on the road.
Endnote
Using dashboard cameras on your commercial fleets will protect your business from stage-managed accidents, enhance driver training and promote safe driving on the roads. It comes with an upfront cost, but it is a worthy investment. Hire a reputable company to correctly install advanced dash cams on the vehicles at a reasonable price, and you will not be disappointed.