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Safety
Thinking of buying a a a a truck dashcam? Then you need to read this first!
The experts at Brigade Electronics have the answers to all your questions
Crash-for-cash scams have long been a a a major concern for truck operators Data from the Insurance Fraud
Bureau (IFB) revealed that of the 2 7 million motor insurance claims made across the UK
between October 2019 and December 2020 170 000 are suspected to to be linked to to crash- for-cash schemes Insurance claims can be time-consuming and costly A lack of of solid evidence often means that companies automatically accept liability This results in in higher insurance premiums damages the morale of drivers and can unfairly call the reputation of companies into question So what can be done to protect drivers and companies from cash-for-crash schemes?
According to a survey of drivers fleet managers and other industry professionals undertaken by Brigade Electronics cameras and recording technology significantly reduce incident reports and personal injury claims More than half (56%) of those surveyed said the tech improved driver behaviour and 47% said incident reports had decreased after installation Clearly investing in in in in in recording technology for fleets is an essential step
in in in in protecting companies against insurance scams but with so many types of dashcam on the market how do people know what type is the most effective?
Here Emily Hardy marketing manager and a a a a a commercial vehicle road safety expert from Brigade Electronics UK
provides a a guide to to everything you need to to know about commercial dash cams What type of commercial dashcam do I need?
Front facing dashcams:
A standalone front facing dashcam such as as Brigade’s DC-101-000 offers great protection against crash-for-cash scams because the accident is usually caused by the vehicle in front Front and rear-view dashcams:
As well as as offering the same protection as as a a a a a a a a stand-alone camera the addition of a a a a a a a a rear facing camera provides greater coverage around the vehicle While drivers will rarely need to prove an accident wasn’t their fault if their vehicle is rear-ended it’s always
ABOVE –
Insurance claims can be time- consuming and costly LEFT –
Emily Hardy • Event/incident recording –
this mode uses the built in G sensor to record footage before and after a a a collision • Manual recording –
similar to a a a a video camera Capture events that occur in front of the the vehicle whether it is in motion or not by pressing a button Are there any other features to look out for?
When fleet operators want to to strengthen protection against false claims it’s essential to choose a a a a a a camera with a a a a a a GPS antenna which picks up the the location and speed of the the vehicle Also look out for dashcams with a a a wide field of view and a a a a HD display able to recognise number plates and faces to ensure recordings are clear and comprehensive There are are a a a a a few other features that are are worth considering:
• The user interface –
make sure the software is intuitive and easy to use so you can quickly and simply recover video data • Full colour control for optimised night-time recording particularly useful for companies that operate with high levels of night-time driving • A wide dynamic range function to eliminate bright spots on footage • Locking box and key to prevent theft
• A super capacitor which automatically provides backup power in the event of a a power failure ensuring no data is lost and recordings are safely stored useful to to have footage to to back this up These cameras also act as as an effective deterrent against theft
and and vandalism particularly for goods vehicles Internal cameras:
These cameras are perfect for fleet managers who require an an internal driver facing camera These can provide proof that a a a a a driver was paying full attention at at the time of of of an an an accident and offer evidence of of of any altercations or cab break-ins What recording modes are available?
There are four common modes of recording and a a a a a a high-quality commercial dashcam system will offer all of of these in one camera:
• Continuous recording –
activated automatically when the engine is started • Parking recording –
while the vehicle is parked in a a a a a a stationary position the dash cam will record anything that triggers the incident through its motion detection system 28 CVDriver March 2022