Vehicle In Cab Cameras And The Law – Driver Facing Cameras

Posted 15 Sep 2023

Driver facing cameras can be a contentious issue. CameraMatics can help with the technology and also in getting your staff onside so they recognize the benefits themselves.

 

More and more fleet operators are installing video cameras in their vehicles and camera technology of some form is now fairly standard for HGVs. Going beyond the basics, however, many fleet managers and owners are also looking to install in-cab/driver-facing cameras.

The benefits of this are pretty obvious; in the event of an accident or incident, you can very easily show that your driver was blameless and was paying full attention at the time of the accident. It also provides a record in the event of altercations with the driver or break-ins to the cab.

This is however a double-edged sword. Of course, in most cases, the driver is blameless and the video can prove that to be the case, but in some cases, they are not. In these cases the recording may show that the driver was distracted, using their phone, asleep, or otherwise at fault. The footage, therefore, becomes the prosecution’s key witness.

It has been shown and reported that fitting in-cab cameras has a strong positive effect on driver behavior, eliminating the bad habits that can cause accidents and therefore making the fleet safer. BUT…despite all these benefits, drivers and unions often perceive the use of in-cab cameras as negative because they have been used in the past, by unscrupulous business owners, as a way to exploit drivers. They have also been seen as an invasion of privacy; particularly for long-distance drivers who effectively ‘live’ in the cab during their downtime on these long trips.

If you wish to install in-cab cameras, you must therefore be aware of the negative perception and work to overcome the fear and stay within the requirements of the law. Here are 5 things to do:

 

  1. You Must Make Drivers Aware

    One of the biggest no-nos of driver facing camera use is not making it 100% clear that they are being used in a vehicle. If there is a camera in the cab, it is especially important that clear signage is included in the cab so drivers and passengers know they are being recorded. Most judges would take a dim view of a company trying to make use of driver facing camera footage in a case against a driver where they were not aware they were being recorded. Covert surveillance is possible, but only under specific circumstances where you believe dishonest activity is occurring, for instance, theft. However, if the activity only occurs on a specific truck or shift, then the covert cameras would need to be installed only on those trucks or for those shifts.
     

  2. Gain Consent

    We regularly hear from fleet owners and fleet managers that drivers remove, unplug, or try to block cameras – particularly the plug-and-play dashcam type. During our discussions, we then discovered that the drivers were not consulted in the decision to install in-cab cameras. Their lack of consent can create distrust as to the motives for the installation of the cameras. Conversely, when the reasons and benefits for the cameras are explained and drivers agree to their use, the cameras remain in all their un-tampered glory and everyone is happy.
     

  3. Create a Video Footage Policy

    One of the best ways to gain consent is to provide an official written policy for how the video camera footage will be recorded, stored, and used. Make sure all staff understand who the Video Data Officer (i.e. the person who will initially review and download the footage) is, who will have access to the footage, and for what purposes. It should also include sanctions for tampering and detail how infractions will be handled, regardless of whether they lead to an accident or not. For instance, minor infractions may only lead to a discussion with the fleet manager or some form of remedial or awareness training.

     

  4. Privacy

    You MUST take privacy seriously. Obviously, this applies to the use of the footage itself, so you must only use the footage for the purpose it was originally intended. You could find yourself fined for improper use of camera footage. However, there is a more practical aspect with regard to camera placement. If there is an expectation of privacy at specific times, for instance when the driver is resting on a long-distance trip, then the camera must either automatically switch off when the engine is not running, or the placement must be such that it does not cover the areas of the cab where drivers take their rest.

     

  5. Employment Contracts

    The easiest way to ensure consent for the use of cameras has been gained is to incorporate it into employment contracts. Existing employees can sign the new version of the contract incorporating the use of cameras and it has the added advantage of ensuring that all new employees effectively give their consent upon signing the contract.

 

Handled correctly, good drivers will embrace this technology as a way to provide them with additional protection against fraudulent and no-fault claims. Reassure them of privacy, the use of the footage, and how it will only benefit them, and your fleet will be safer forever.

This is the second in a series of articles on the subject of vehicle cameras and the law, however, should you have any concerns about the implementation or use of vehicle cameras, we would suggest you consult with your solicitor or legal experts.

You can talk to our expert if you want to find out more about vehicle cameras as well as our fleet management solutions.

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