By Paul Adair, Staff Writer

Outward-facing dash cameras have become a common feature for many private vehicles and professional fleets. Fleet managers appreciate the value of dashcams in mitigating risk, reducing insurance costs, and improving operational efficiency. Safety advocates see them as crucial technology for reducing accidents and promoting responsible driving. What’s more, many drivers themselves are embracing dashcams for the added sense of security and protection they provide.

As a global leader in connected vehicle and asset solutions, Geotab believes that this widespread adoption of dashcams reflects a collective commitment to creating a safer and more accountable trucking industry.

“We see dashcams as an essential tool for enhancing safety, improving performance, and protecting our customers’ businesses, with the intent of creating a safer environment for everyone on the road,” says Vik Sridhar, Senior Manager, Group Product Management at Geotab. “Dashcams provide objective evidence in the event of an accident, helping to determine fault and protect drivers from false claims. They also serve as a valuable coaching tool, allowing drivers to identify areas for improvement and enhance their skills.”

More specifically, dashcams are important because they can help:

• Save commercial businesses money by using video evidence for fraudulent claims and exonerating drivers;
• Offer 360° of operational visibility with in-cab and exterior cameras;
• Identify harsh driving incidents to personalize driver coaching and increase driver engagement;
• Reduce the number of collisions by sending instant alerts to drivers when they are lane drifting or driving too close to other vehicles; and
• Pick up on driver behaviours like cell phone use, smoking, eating, or driver fatigue through the use of artificial intelligence.

While there are many proven dashcam benefits, the growing use of the technology within the trucking industry has some wondering what the goal of the dashcam actually is – to ensure safety, or to catch mistakes?

Who is watching and why?

The response to the use of dashcams among truck drivers today is nuanced. Many drivers do freely acknowledge the previously mentioned benefits of the technology but still have significant reservations when it comes to the use of driver-facing cameras, with one of the most significant concerns being driver privacy.

“We understand from the industry that drivers feel like they’re being constantly monitored, especially with cameras that record both the road and the interior of the truck,” says Zoe Aranha, Associate at BLG. With offices in Toronto, Ottawa, Calgary, Vancouver, and Montreal, BLG is Canada’s largest law firm and is a one-stop-shop for many clients. “We also hear that some drivers worry that dashcam footage might be used primarily as a way to penalize drivers, as opposed to promoting safety or improving performance.”

One of the main concerns drivers have is the potential for the misuse of footage. That is why trucking companies need to establish clear policies early on that outline how footage will be collected and used, who can access it, and under what circumstances – transparency is key. These companies should also work to help drivers fully understand that the main purpose of the dashcams is not about catching mistakes, but instead to protect the driver and the company, as well as to increase overall safety, develop accident prevention measures, and ensure legal protection.

This is not to say, however, that the concerns drivers have about privacy are invalid – far from it. Rather than dismissing their concerns as trivial, trucking companies need to be up front and address them openly and transparently. By emphasizing the positive impact of dashcams on safety, driver protection, and professional growth, companies will be able to foster a culture of trust and collaboration around the technology. 

“At our last Geotab Connect conference, I was speaking to a fleet owner and I asked this person how they deal with driver resistance around cameras,” says Sridhar. “Their answer was simple – ‘drivers talk to each other.’ When one driver was in a collision and the dashcam footage clearly showed he wasn’t at fault, suddenly those very same drivers who were previously skeptical now refused to drive without a dashcam in the vehicle. We believe that as drivers become more familiar with dashcams and their benefits, their perceptions about the technology will continue to evolve.”

“When one driver was in a collision and the dashcam footage clearly showed he wasn’t at fault, suddenly those very same drivers who were previously skeptical now refused to drive without a dashcam in the vehicle.” – Vik Sridhar, Geotab

A collaborative approach

Trucking companies looking to alleviate concerns about the use of dashcams should start by thinking about how the technology is being introduced to their drivers, long before the cameras are installed on the vehicle.

Companies will best overcome driver concerns through open communication and education, emphasizing the safety benefits of dashcams, and highlighting their role in exonerating drivers from false claims and improving driving habits. Companies can even consider implementing a system where drivers can review their own footage and use it as a self-improvement tool.

“By listening to drivers and allowing them to ask questions about how the dashcam system works, as well as its impact on them, companies will be able reduce resistance and foster an environment where they feel that their concerns are valued,” says Aranha. “What’s more, the drivers’ feedback can also help the company determine what type of dashcam technology to invest in, as well as how to best implement its use.”

To really drive home the importance and value of dashcams, companies should develop clear internal policies and guidelines that reflect the parameters for recording, use, storage, and retention of the footage collected. This policy can also include details about which actions, behaviours, or circumstances will trigger a review of the footage, as well as outline the consequences for any driving and safety infractions.

“It’s important to clearly explain the company’s dashcam policy, including data access and usage protocols,” says Sridhar. “By fostering a culture of trust and transparency, companies can successfully integrate dashcam technology while respecting driver privacy and concerns.”

In conclusion

While there is broad support in the law for the use of dashcams in the Canadian trucking industry, the sector must still approach the implementation of the system in a careful way. Trucking companies also need to ensure that they understand the relevant privacy and employment legislation in the jurisdiction in which they operate.

In summary, some best practices for businesses considering the implementation of a dashcam system are:

• Make the system a part of your safety culture;
• Obtain meaningful and fresh consent from employees to be recorded;
• Inform drivers why dashcams are being implemented; how footage will be recorded, stored, and destroyed; when footage might be used; and to whom it might be released;
• Collect only the information needed to fulfill a legitimate identified purpose;
• Keep footage only as long as needed to serve those purposes;
• Develop procedures for retaining and destroying personal information;
• Remember that drivers have a right to access the footage and challenge the accuracy and completeness of the information;
• Include all of these points in a privacy policy, collective agreement, or employment contract;
• Train drivers about the policy;
• Obtain acknowledgement that drivers have received, read, and understood the policy; and
• Update policies as needed.

Aranha says, “With the growing use of data collection technologies like dashcams, a privacy management program will ensure that trucking companies can leverage these tools for safety and operational efficiency, while still respecting drivers’ privacy rights and complying with legal obligations.”