In our fast-paced, modern lives, efficiency has become the foundation of our day-to-day living. We are constantly striving to accomplish more in less time, and this mindset extends to every aspect of our routine, including driving. Whether for personal or business purposes, reaching our destinations swiftly and safely is a top priority. This need is especially crucial for businesses that depend on a fleet of vehicles to ensure the success of their products or services.
Despite their compact size, dashcams have become an essential tool for drivers worldwide, offering safety, security, and peace of mind. For fleet managers and businesses operating vehicle fleets, dashcams are often a necessity rather than a luxury. These devices provide businesses with valuable insights into driver behaviour and the handling of company vehicles. By offering an unbiased record of events on the road, dashcams help alleviate liability issues, reduce insurance premiums, and enhance overall fleet management. They play a pivotal role in keeping vehicles safe and operations running smoothly.
Read on to discover the seven key benefits of equipping your vehicle with a dashboard camera…
1) Enhanced Road Safety and Accident Evidence
Dashcams can provide crucial, accurate evidence in case of accidents, protecting drivers from false claims. The clear visual and unbiased evidence provided by a dashcam can help resolve disputes, determine fault, and simplify insurance claims. Dashcam footage reveals valuable information such as road conditions, and driver actions at the time an accident occurred which not only aids legal proceedings but can speed up them up too!
Most dashcams are connected to telematic technology installed in a vehicle too. This technology blends telecommunications and informatics to send and collect real-time data about a vehicle including speed, mileage, location, engine status and fuel usage. The data collected is then analysed to provide insights into driver behaviour, the performance of the vehicle etc.
Integrating telematic data with the visual evidence of dashcam footage can provide further detailed insights for investigators when trying to accurately determine who is at fault and what safety measures could be improved.
2) Protection Against Insurance Fraud
Dashcams play a crucial role in preventing insurance fraud by providing clear and unbiased evidence of incidents on the road, capturing the truth when it matters the most. When an accident occurs, conflicting accounts from those involved can make it difficult to determine who is at fault – it is often your word against theirs. Conflicting accounts can turn a straightforward situation into a drawn-out nightmare, with disputes dragging on and uncertainty clouding the facts. Dashcams, however, capture real-time footage of events as they unfold, offering an objective record that can be used to verify the facts. The video evidence is invaluable in resolving disputes quickly and fairly, ensuring that the responsible party is held accountable.
Insurance fraud, such as staged accidents or false injury claims, is a significant problem that costs companies and consumers billions each year. Fraudsters count on the chaos of an accident to exploit the situation, often providing false accounts or inflating damages to cash in on a payout from the insurance company. With dashcam footage, these fraudulent activities are much harder to execute. The recorded video can clearly show what happened before, during, and after an incident, making it almost impossible for fraudsters to fabricate or distort the truth. This not only protects innocent drivers from being unfairly targeted but also helps insurance companies avoid paying out on illegitimate claims.
You may be aware of the “Crash for Cash” schemes that have been widely covered by the UK press in recent years? These schemes underscore the value of dashcams in preventing insurance fraud. One high-profile case that took place in 2014 stands out, where a gang based in the North East, known as the “slammer” gang, was caught staging accidents to make fraudulent insurance claims. The gang’s operation involved deliberately causing collisions, usually by making sudden stops in front of unsuspecting drivers, forcing them to crash.
Dashcam footage played a key role in exposing their fraudulent activities with the evidence helping authorities to prosecute the gang, leading to multiple convictions and prison sentences.
3) Monitoring Driver Behaviour
Dashcams capture video footage of a driver’s habits and actions in real time. Monitoring driver behaviour in this way is not just useful for accident recording. It enables fleet managers and business owners to have a comprehensive view of how their drivers operate whilst out on the road to help identify both positive behaviours and areas that might need improving.
Another key advantage of using dashcams for driver monitoring is the ability to track how well they adhere to safety procedures. For instance, managers can review footage to ensure that drivers are following speed limits, using seat belts, and adhering to other safety regulations. This not only helps in promoting a culture of safety within the company but also reduces the risk of accidents caused by reckless driving. By reviewing dashcam footage on a regular basis, fleet managers can provide their drivers with specific feedback and targeted training (if necessary) to reinforce safe driving practices and address any issues before they lead to bigger, costlier problems.
On another note, dashcams can serve as a valuable tool for monitoring driver efficiency and productivity. For businesses that rely on timely deliveries or service calls, understanding how drivers manage their routes and handle their vehicles can provide insights into operational efficiency. Footage can reveal if drivers are making unauthorised stops or detours, which can impact both productivity and fuel consumption. If businesses are able to optimise routes and improve overall fleet performance by reviewing dashcam footage, it could even lead to some welcome cost savings and enhanced customer service.
On top of everything we have already mentioned, the presence of dashcams can act as a deterrent to poor driving behaviour. Knowing that their actions are being recorded is often enough to encourage drivers to adhere to better driving practices and reduces the likelihood of misconduct.
4) Recording Vandalism and Theft
Dashboard cameras are loved for their ability to capture high quality footage of vandalism, theft, or hit-and-run incidents, even when the vehicle is parked due to their ability to provide continuous, real-time surveillance of a vehicle’s surroundings.
When a vehicle is equipped with a dashcam, it acts as a deterrent to potential vandals or thieves who are less likely to target a vehicle with an obvious surveillance system. In the unfortunate event that vandalism or theft does occur, the dashcam captures detailed footage of the incident, including the perpetrators, their actions, and the vehicle’s environment. This crucial evidence can aid in identifying suspects, recovering stolen property, and supporting insurance claims. Plus, having clear video evidence can significantly accelerate investigations and increase the likelihood of a successful outcome and prosecution.
5) Lower Insurance Premiums
The presence of a dashcam can lead to tangible benefits for your wallet. Insurance companies are well aware of how effective dashcams are at preventing fraud, and many offer discounts to drivers who use them. This means that not only are you safeguarding yourself or your company against potential scams, but you could also see a reduction in your insurance premiums. The ripple effect is significant: fewer fraudulent claims lead to lower costs for everyone, making the roads—and the insurance process—safer and fairer.
In our recent article Dashcams UK: Everything You Need To Know, Louis Verrico, Director at PACE Van Hire, explained:
“Many insurance companies offer discounts for drivers who use dashcams. For private individuals, simply mentioning that you have one or can provide footage can often lead to lower premiums. But for fleets like ours, dashcams are a game-changer. With a 50% burns ratio, every claim we make essentially doubles our premium the following year. That’s where dashcams save us heaps of cash by reducing the number of claims we need to file.”
6) Peace Of Mind For New And Young Drivers
If you have new or young drivers in your household or amongst your fleet, dashcams can offer great peace of mind. They provide an extra layer of security and accountability on the road. For those who are still gaining confidence and experience, having a dashcam can be reassuring, knowing that their driving is being recorded. This not only helps in reviewing and improving driving habits but also offers protection in case of accidents or disputes. If an incident occurs, the dashcam provides unambiguous evidence, which can be crucial for resolving claims and proving innocence. Additionally, the presence of a dashcam can serve as a deterrent to reckless driving and encourage safer conduct for a less stressful and more secure driving experience.
7) Capturing Unexpected Moments On The Road
Dash cams are great at capturing unexpected moments on the road, offering a unique glimpse into the unpredictability of driving. From spontaneous acts of kindness to rare wildlife sightings or extraordinary traffic situations, dashcams record everything that happens in front of your vehicle. You may have enjoyed the popular TV show Caught on Dashcam or watched footage on YouTube of scary/funny behaviour and events on the roads and motorways?
Because these memorable events are captured in real-time, they are fascinating and sometimes entertaining to watch and put real perspective on your journeys. Beyond the excitement of capturing footage like this, it can also serve as valuable evidence in case of unforeseen incidents or unusual occurrences, as we have already mentioned above.
At Pace Van Hire, when someone rents a van from us, they are automatically equipped with dashboard cameras installed in the vehicle. It is not an option; it is a standard feature. If you or your business need a van, whether on a short-term or long-term basis, give the team at Pace Van Hire a call, we would love to discuss our wide range of options and find the perfect fit for your needs.
