Use of dashboard cameras has become increasingly popular in the past 5 years. While their uses vary in the public sector, dash cameras offer an even more valuable and direct purpose for livery and chair car providers. Products such as the Edgecam Pro serve as a vital tool in protecting against claims, monitoring driver performance, andensuring passengers are safe, and experiencing quality rides.
Dash Cameras can range in price from $39 to $1,000. With thousands of different cameras on the market it can be hard to discern which is right for your business. First time dash camera buyers often ask:
- “How can I be sure the dash camera I chose will help me protect my investment?”
- “Can my dash camera footage serve as a coaching tool for my employees?”
- “Will my dash camera actually help me ensure that my passengers are being treated properly?”
In this article we will be discussing some key features fleet owners should seek when purchasing a dash camera, and how these features can directly impact your business.
Protecting Your Investment
There are increased safety risks for fleets transporting a frail population, who often require the use of mobility devices. If an incident occurs, severity of the bodily injury is often greater among this population, than for passengers who ambulate freely. Should you receive anincident claim reportingbodily harm or other damages, it is imperative to investigate the claim quickly, and thoroughly. Unfortunately, without the transparency provided by audio andvideo recording, the claim becomes more ambiguous, and a matter of hearsay. Tom Reader, Senior Director of Marketing at J.J. Keller & Associatesconfirms that “Capturing driver video footage provides evidence leading up to an event or accident, exonerates innocent drivers, identifies fatigued or distracted driving, and delivers more information on driver behaviors — all of which can lead to reduced insurance rates and timely driver coaching, resulting in a tremendous return on investment.” ("J.J. Keller Introduces Dash Camera Solution for Proactive Driver Coaching and Effective Risk Management," 2019)
Even if the passengers are injured due to driver error, all hope is not lost. That is, so long as your vehicle is properly outfitted with a quality dash camera.
If video evidence proves that an employee did not strictly adhere to company loading, or securement procedures, the onus may then be on the driver alone. When the claim is litigated in court, the business itself can maintain blamelessness, so long as the acting employee was promptly removed from employment, and is proved to have violated written company policy.
Ease of Protecting Your Investment with the Edgecam Pro:
- Locking SD-Card Slot- Safeguards video data from being tampered with or destroyed
- High Resolution Video- 1080P clarity captures the smallest details
- Forward and Rear-Facing lens- Outward facing & Cabin facing lens’ monitors potential threats from all directions.
- Night Vision- Transportation happens at all hours of the day, and night. Ensure your camera is able to capture in low light situations
Quality Assurance
Bodily injury, insurance claims, and litigation aside for a moment, let’s discuss the crux of our service industry- Customer Service. Reviewing footage from client interactions with the driver during a performance review provides a worldly (and sometimes sobering) audit of the quality of service being provided. While dash cams enabled with audio serve as a useful tool, The KristLawfirmP.C.states “… if your dash cam it is able to record audio inside your vehicle, or if it has another video lens that records inside of your car, you should inform those inside your vehicle that you are recording – otherwise you may be engaging in a form of wiretapping or illegal recording. Some states also prohibit you from making audio recordings of individuals” ("How a Dash Cam Can Help Your Insurance Claim," 2017).
For reasons such as this, Parasupply Co. includes an Audio & Video Recording In Progress sticker with all dash camera purchases.
Quality Assurance Features:
- 140* Rear facing camera
- Audio Recording
- Panic Button- When pushed during an event, the panic button begins recording and saving all video and audio files, allowing them to not be overwritten.
- Remote photo & video capture
- Audio & Video Recording Consent Sticker
Driver Development
Dash camera, such as the Edgecam Pro, can also aid in driver development, and prevent incidents all together. Using the “Live Video” function which operates on a 3G wireless network, fleet owners are able to remotely spot driver deficiencies such as distracted driving. Monitoring and subsequently coaching drivers reduces the likelihood of a driver repeating the same mistake in the future. Paul Schoemaker’s, co-author of Brilliant Mistakes, proven approach that“the best kind of mistake is where the costs are low, but the learning is high” (Mrsic, "Dealing with Employee Mistakes", 2018).
Additionally, when a complaint is submitted by a passenger, or on the passenger’s behalf, you are able to confirm the validity of the complaint prior to taking corrective action. Having the proper tools allows the fleet's owner, or management to perform a route cause analysis of the complaint, employ a performance improvement plan, and prevent future issues of the same nature. As you are likely aware, finding and retaining quality drivers can be a full-time job. If a false complaint is submitted and unable to be verified, a valued member of your driver team may wrongfully reprimanded. Such instances cause human resource challenges, weakened morale, and sometimes, additional court involvement.
Driver Coaching Features:
- Geo-fencing- Get real time alerts when drivers pull in &out of their garaging location, allowing you to accurately record driver hours.
- Live Video- Spot correct distracted driving and other behavior
- Dial in- Speak to your driver directly through the camera! See something, Say something.
- Locking SD Card Port- eliminates the possibility of a driver or passenger destroying valuable footage.
Citations
How a Dash Cam Can Help Your Insurance Claim. (2017, November 13). Retrieved from https://www.houstoninjurylawyer.com/dash-cam-can-help-insurance-claim/
J.J. Keller Introduces Dash Camera Solution for Proactive Driver Coaching and Effective Risk Management. (2019, February 12). Retrieved from https://www.jjkeller.com/learn/jj-keller-introduces-dash-camera-solution-for-proactive-driver-coaching-and-effective-risk-management
Mrsic, M. (2018, December 21). Dealing with Employee Mistakes. Retrieved from https://www.glassdoor.com/employers/blog/screw-management-deal-someone-made-serious-mistake/