The Benefits of In-Vehicle Cameras
In-vehicle cameras are an excellent addition to your fleet as they can improve and maintain your drivers’ and fleets’ high standard of performance. Not only can the cameras protect your fleet they can detect and protect you from the actions of other road users.
Proactively using in-vehicle cameras to improve driver behaviour through the regular review of footage and providing feedback to drivers can reduce crashes. It acts as a reminder that in- vehicle cameras are present and that driving behaviours are monitored, helping to embed a positive culture around safe driving.
Importantly the in-vehicle camera footage can also be used to defend against claims, protect drivers from accusations of dangerous driving and if your driver was at fault, help in settling the claim quicker with potentially lower costs.
Here are a couple of examples: • A ‘crash for cash’/induced crash where a car driver slammed on their brakes in front of an HGV on a slip road. The in-vehicle camera footage enabled Aviva to repudiate all claims and have an admission of liability from the third party. A saving of approximately £7,500. • A car driver alleged that our client’s HGV changed lanes and hit their vehicle. The in-vehicle camera footage supported our client’s evidence that the car drifted into their path and the claim for vehicle damage and bodily injury claims was repudiated. A saving on this claim of over £12,000. One downside of in-vehicle cameras is occasionally the footage can become corrupted and it is impossible to use to confirm the driver’s account. To prevent this happening the functionality of the in-vehicle cameras must be checked on a regular basis. It is even better if your camera system has a ‘Self check and Notification’ facility.
Where SD cards are used: • Check the SD card and format it on a regular basis. • Replace SD cards on a regular basis. The amount of footage stored will determine the frequency but as a minimum replace the SD cards every 12 months. • Ask drivers to check the cameras during their vehicle check. Where the in-vehicle camera footage has become corrupted and a serious crash occurs, the insurer might undertake a reconstruction of the event to assist in determining fault. These are expensive and can add to the claim costs. By ensuring the in-vehicle camera remains in a good working condition, the footage is proactively monitored and forwarded to the insurer when a crash occurs, the return on investment will soon materialise.
Your Safety Checklist • Use the in-vehicle camera proactively to help in preventing crashes by using the footage to praise drivers and coach poor driving behaviour. • Check that your in-vehicle cameras remain in good working order and quickly respond to any faults. • Report any crash immediately to the insurer and provide the in-vehicle camera footage. We can then provide you with assistance to get your vehicle back on the road. As well as managing the repairs and any vehicle hire costs at a lower rate, helping to keep the claims cost down.
This article has been compiled using information available up to 14/09/22. Whilst care has been taken in the production of this document, Aon does not warrant, represent or guarantee the accuracy, adequacy, completeness or fitness for any purpose of the document or any part of it and can accept no liability for any loss incurred in any way by any person who may rely on it. Any recipient shall be responsible for the use to which it puts this document. This document has been compiled using information available to us up to its date of publication and is subject to any qualifications made in this document.