Damian Penney, Vice President EMEA, Lytx
Commercial fleets often find privacy issues a challenge when adopting video telematics. They must navigate concerns from drivers about video footage being captured in the vehicle, privacy regulations that may impose requirements for the use of video technology, while balancing the need to keep both drivers and other road users safe.
Driver resistance is frequently one of the biggest challenges to video implementation. Some drivers initially fear that video telematics technology is being used by their managers as a ‘spy in the cab’, to examine and scrutinise their driving abilities, or because they are not trusted with the goods they are transporting. They may also worry about how and why personal data is being used and stored.
However, the application of video safety technology is helping to change these attitudes. With the introduction of machine vision (MV) and artificial intelligence (AI), the technology has gone from being a supervisor tool to a driver safety tool which can empower drivers and provide them with additional tools to remain safe on the road.
Of course, drivers will always have questions and concerns when introducing new technology. We’ve taken a look at some of the different issues faced by fleets that are thinking of introducing video and outlined how they can be tackled.
A range of privacy requirements
Video dashcams are widely acceptable under law in the EU and the UK, provided fleets follow local regulations on their use. However, public perception about the technology remains divided across different countries and presents the biggest challenge in wider adoption.
The configurable nature of leading intelligent video telematics systems allows fleets to overcome these concerns. The in-cab dash cam lens, for example, can function as a sensor, allowing the MV+AI technology to continue identifying risks and sending drivers alerts for distracted driving, without actually recording any video. Registration plates and faces of passengers or passers-by can also be blurred to minimise the storage of personal data.
In addition, fleets have the ability to control for how long data and video is stored on the device and available to retrieve in the cloud.
Driver buy-in – overcoming fears
Educating drivers about how cameras can help them is an important factor in making video telematics a success within your fleet. The best place to start is by building trust. Having an open and transparent dialogue about exactly what data the fleet manager will see when introducing video solutions, and how they then act on those insights, can help boost driver acceptance.
Fleets should aim to involve drivers in this process as early as possible to ensure that they feel consulted, understand the objectives of the implementation and are fully informed about the potential benefits. They can also introduce the technology in phases, to help gain driver buy-in gradually – rather than implementing a new and unfamiliar solution straight away.
The fact is that intelligent video telematics solutions can give drivers greater control, so they can make the right decisions while out on the road. The technology uses information from several sensors at once, in and around the outside of the vehicle. MV+AI detects whether a driver is engaging in a distracted driving behaviour. If the driver is smoking behind the wheel, for example, audible and visual alerts will be emitted which warns the individual to self-correct in the moment, before an incident occurs.
Another common fear of drivers is how video of themselves may then be used. The fleet’s access to any footage, however, is dependent upon the configuration and user access that the fleet determines. Fleet managers aren’t alerted to every instance of risky behaviour. They are only shown the clips where risky driving is being repeated multiple times without correction. This helps to prevent managers from being overwhelmed with footage to review and helps them to work efficiently. They can then offer drivers more effective and targeted coaching sessions, which empower and reward them for better driving.
An increasing number of drivers are now starting to appreciate the potential of video. As advances in technology are enabling more configurable video telematics, and trust is built between fleet managers and drivers via transparency about how data is being used, concerns will diminish. This is contributing to rapid growth in the adoption of video across Europe, including countries such as Germany that have previously been more cautious. As take-up continues, in the coming decade, we will continue to see a significant improvement in safety.
