How Vehicle Dashcams Can Protect Your Fleet

They say there are two sides to every story. This rings especially true for commercial fleets. In a world where accidents and other unexpected events can occur when you least expect them, it’s crucial to have an unassailable source of truth to protect your business and drivers. This is where vehicle dashcams come in. Video is one of the quickest ways to the truth. Dashcams for fleet vehicles provide valuable evidence to determine fault in case of an accident, help encourage responsible driving habits, and help deter vandalism. After all, if someone knows their actions are being recorded, they may think twice before engaging in inappropriate behavior.

Dashcams Provide Visibility, Lower Potential Exposure, and Optimize Performance

Auto accidents are an unfortunate part of life, but in commercial fleets, false accusations or staged accidents can leave your drivers defenseless and your business at financial risk. If your driver is found at fault, it could lead to an increase in your fleet insurance premiums and make your company susceptible to litigation.

Video footage from a vehicle dashcam can provide key evidence to combat false claims and protect your business’s integrity (and coffers). An April 2023 report from the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) found that in-cab dashcam footage, when available, exonerates drivers in 49% of litigation cases and leads to settlements (rather than trial) in 86% of cases.¹⁰⁸⁵

Dashcams for fleet vehicles are useful in other situations as well. Imagine a scenario where an errant rock flies into a driver’s windshield as they coast down the highway, causing a significant crack to form. There’s nothing the driver could have done differently to prevent the rock from hitting the windshield. However, when you file a claim with your fleet insurance provider, coverage could be denied, leaving you to pay for repairs out of pocket. Having video footage to back up your driver’s recollection of events could strengthen your case significantly. The same ATRI report found that in-cab dashcam footage, when available, absolves drivers of fault in just over half (52%) of insurance claims.¹⁰⁸⁵

Dashcam footage is also useful for encouraging better driving habits. The ATRI report found that many drivers are still skeptical of driver-facing dashcams, but when the video footage is used for key safety measures (i.e., creating and/or improving general driver safety programs, ongoing driver coaching, and training), driver approval increases significantly.¹⁰⁸⁵

Distracted driving was responsible for 8% of fatal crashes and 14% of injury crashes in 2021, according to a May 2023 report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).¹⁰⁸⁶ While many associate cell phone usage with distracted driving, the NHTSA defines distracted driving as any behavior that causes drivers to divert their attention from the road, including eating and adjusting the radio.¹⁰⁸⁶ You can use dashcam footage to observe and potentially correct distracted driving and other habits, such as speeding and harsh braking. You can also use it to reward drivers who consistently showcase compliant driving habits.

Dashcam Installation and Usage for Fleet Vehicles

It’s hard to overstate the value of having additional eyes on the road. That’s exactly why Ford Pro^TM Telematics now has an available dashcam solution.¹⁰⁸⁷ This connected vehicle technology is powered by the modem embedded in Ford vehicles or plug-in devices on 2015 or older Ford models or non-Ford vehicles. Activating the modem is essential to accessing telematics features and realizing their benefits.

To mount the camera, clean the windshield with an included alcohol wipe and attach it to the inside of the windshield near the rearview mirror. After installing the dashcam, you’ll need to link it to the vehicle’s VIN in Ford Pro Fleet Marketplace.

How does the dashcam work? We’re so glad you asked. The vehicle dashcam uses the built-in accelerometer to detect ignition and will automatically begin recording (and will do so continuously while the vehicle is running). It utilizes artificial intelligence technology to capture high-definition in-cabin and road-facing video footage, detect driving incidents, and identify driver distractions. That footage and data are distributed directly through the vehicle’s built-in modem, and after linking the dashcam to a specific vehicle’s VIN in Ford Pro Fleet Marketplace, you can view the footage in your Ford Pro Telematics account.