Compelling statistics support dash cam use based solely on the potential for proving that your construction fleet driver was not at fault. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) conducted studies from 2007 through 2009 that reviewed 6,131 fatal car-truck crashes.
The FMCSA Large Truck and Bus Crash Facts (September 2022) showed that in 2020, at least one driver-related factor was recorded for 32% of the large truck drivers in fatal crashes, compared to 55% of the passenger-vehicle drivers in fatal crashes.
Large Truck Crashes On the Rise
Crashes involving large trucks — including dump trucks and flatbeds hauling construction equipment — are on the rise. According to the National Safety Council, between 2010 – 2019 there was a 43% increase in deadly crashes.
Construction companies don’t always buy the shiny new object in safety technology, and it’s no different with dash cams. They want to be sure these devices will provide bottom-line savings before they invest in them. However, many of these companies have moved to dash cams in the past few years because of the value of exoneration.
Exoneration of even one driver involved in a crash with significant litigation risk will pay for the investment in dash cams many times over. Additionally, proof of the driver’s innocence prevents having to hire and train a new driver. Dash cams level the playing field, defending drivers and construction companies against wrongful lawsuits.
Dash cam video clips can be pivotal in proving that your driver was doing the right things at the right time. Absent video evidence, relying on witness testimony is a gamble, especially when the statistics favor the driver and the company as not being at fault.
Dash Cam Return on Investment
No other piece of in-cab technology provides such a substantial return on investment across multiple areas of your company. With dash cameras, the ability to proactively manage your risk and improve operations is significant.
Even if you can’t wholly exonerate your driver, video evidence may still motivate a plaintiff to settle more quickly and for less than expected. Your video may show that the situation wasn’t nearly as egregious as prior statements indicated.
