Transport Operators Get Benefits From Cameras

In-Vehicle Cameras – Transport Operators Get Biggest Benefits Says Lumley

The widespread use of in-vehicle cameras could save the New Zealand trucking industry between $40 - 50 million annually in reduced accidents and lower insurance premiums alone.

This is the claim of Lumley Insurance, the company which has promoted the use of the in-vehicle camera technology by the transport operators which it insures.

The head of Lumley’s Commercial Motor division, Ian Taylor, says that there is not a transport company – fleet operator or owner driver – who wouldn’t achieve savings in their business.

He says that based on hard figures from Lumley customers, the savings range between 30% and 90% of the annual repair costs experienced for each vehicle prior to fitting the equipment.

Taylor says that identifying bad driver behaviour and near-hits that can be reported to the Police was an important benefit of the camera system, but a “by-product” when compared to potential benefits to the trucking industry itself.

“As much as we support the use of the cameras as a surveillance system for incompetent third-party drivers, the real prize is in the benefits to transport operators themselves. Unfortunately we still get some pushback from transport operators over the cost of system and drivers who have “big brother” concerns.

“What we know from others who have successfully used the system, is the return on investment is both measurable and significant, and driver concerns are without foundation.

“For one or two companies, the in-vehicle cameras have been the difference between getting insurance or not. We had one company facing a $100,000 excess on its policy, and installing cameras was the prudent way of getting the costs down.

“Properly used, the cameras can result in immediate improvements in driver skills, attitude and reduced risk. The tangible rewards are fewer incidents requiring vehicle repairs and reduced premiums.”

130 cameras in line haul fleet
From its use of the cameras in 130 vehicles in its line haul fleet since last October, Halls Transport confirms the way that the technology changes driver behaviour.

“Month on month we have seen the reduction in the number of events triggered by the cameras”, says Halls’ General Manager Operations Grant Madill.

“It has been a successful initiative in changing behaviour in a positive way and providing at the same time an effective training tool.”

Mr Madill also says that in a world where the driver is often wrong until proven otherwise, this technology takes the ambiguity away, allowing a quick and clear investigation.

“We are very happy with the product and what it has delivered to date. Although drivers were initially sceptical about the ‘big brother’ aspect, now with increased understand we do not hear any negative feedback.”

Mr Madill says that his company has not yet tried to put a figure on the benefits of the cameras, but they had more than covered their costs.

Background

Lumley became involved with the introduction of in-vehicle cameras for the transport industry in 2006. So far around 1000 cameras have been fitted in trucks throughout New Zealand.

The insurance company saw the technology as a way of helping motor clients reduce their losses from accidents and repairs and improving road safety across the transport sector.

In-vehicle cameras create a new level of safety awareness, and allows companies and drivers to pick up on behaviour that would not be detected in any other way, short of an accident. Driver awareness and coaching from the tool has led to modified behaviour, often with improved driver attitudes and better driving habits.

The window mounted, palm-size camera system can record both what is happening on the road outside, and the action of the driver inside the vehicle. The technology is programmed to record automatically all abnormal driving events, including hard braking and acceleration, unsafe cornering and crash incidents.

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