Integrating data with dash cam video improves safety and efficiency

Combining dash cam footage (the on-board cameras) and driving data for precise monitoring of what is happening to fleet vehicles, all accompanied by artificial intelligence that can identify and inform drivers in the event of dangerous behaviour. This is in a nutshell the basic function of video telematics, but clearly the potential is much broader. There are almost 1.6 million active video telematics systems in Europe, which are set to double to 3.3 million in the next four years. These are widely used solutions for commercial vehicles, but not only.

Concrete examples come from Webfleet (Bridgestone), which with Webfleet Video 2.0 offers an advanced Ia-based solution, which works through two cameras using artificial vision and Ia monitoring to help the driver detect potential hazards and better recognise road conditions. The feedback is in real time: the aim is to offer immediate corrective action. The help goes first and foremost to the driver, but it also extends to fleet managers, who can obtain more in-depth information, being able to monitor and improve driver behaviour over time.

Webfleet recently announced a collaboration with Peregrine.ai, a Berlin-based start-up specialising in AI-based vision systems, with the launch of a next-generation driver assistance solution to strengthen Webfleet Video and set a new standard for fleet safety. "This is an important step in our mission to make mobility safer and smarter," explained Jan-Maarten de Vries, president fleet management solutions at Bridgestone. "We offer a next-generation driving safety solution that goes far beyond traditional dash cams by detecting and contextualising events and road hazards as they occur."

From being tools designed primarily to make recordings for insurance and legal purposes with evidentiary value, dash cams are now seen with attention for what they can offer in terms of security and operational efficiency. But there is no shortage of questions, starting with privacy. In Italy, the installation of frontal and dual-face cameras to monitor driving style and events is permitted provided that compliance is guaranteed with both the Personal Data Protection Code and the Highway Code. "The installation of cameras in vehicles is often a source of concern for fleet managers. With the right culture and awareness, as well as the support and guidance of experienced suppliers, however, apparent obstacles can be transformed into opportunities," says Franco Viganò, Avp Emea & Italy country manager of Geotab. "Dash cams are advanced tools that offer concrete advantages: with adequate levels of control and transparency, companies can exploit technology to protect their drivers and optimise fleet performance. In response to a context marked by stress, accidents and rising costs, Geotab has recently launched GO Focus Plus, a dual-face Ia-based dash cam capable of reducing non-observance of safety distances by up to 90 per cent and phone use while driving by up to 95 per cent.

The offer of Targa Telematics, recently ranked number one in Europe in Berg Insight's ranking of providers of digital mobility solutions for renters, also stands out. "The added value of our technology is based on the domain expertise developed over many years of collaboration with renters," says Massimiliano Balbo di Vinadio, vice president sales La at Targa Telematics. "Backed by more than twenty years of experience in telematics and connected mobility, we offer services enhanced by predictive features, useful to intervene in case of theft and misappropriation, also thanks to a 24/7 call centre service."