Four Reasons Why You Need Dash Cams in Your HGV

Do you have a dash cam in your HGV? We hope so! If you do not, then you are missing out on a neat trick. Purchasing and setting up a dash cam in your HGV would probably be one of the best investment decisions you ever make when it comes to your safety and the future of your career. Over the years, these cameras have been able to capture some amazing accident footages from around the world, and most in the form of lorry, van or other heavy or commercial vehicle incidents. When you do your HGV training in Hampshire, it is worth finding out more about the benefits of dash cam’s.

The use of dash cams has, in many instances, proven that the driver was unsafe, but they also have proven that HGV drivers were not at fault for an accident, helping clear the names of innocent drivers.

In fact, Cobra UK, a security solutions provider, recently requested the government to enact laws that will require all commercial vehicles to have front-facing cameras as a way of curbing crash-for-cash scams. But the government has yet to respond to this advice. Nevertheless, there are numerous reasons why you should consider having a dash cam installed in your HGV and here are four of them:

Protection Against ‘Crash-for-Cash’ Scams

Insurance claims covering crash-for-cash scams have considerably risen in the last five years. Because of the nature of these scams, it is almost impossible for HGV drivers to exonerate themselves – unless they have a dash cam. If you have not heard about the crash-for-cash scams before, then here is a brief explanation of how they work.

A scam artist pulls in front of a heavy commercial vehicle, usually when the traffic is moving fast, before doing some absurd thing to intentionally cause an accident such as slowing their car down to without triggering brake lights or slamming on the brakes for no apparent reason. As a result, the victim crashes into the vehicle from behind – a scenario that makes it easy for insurance companies to find the victim to be at fault. However, with a dash cam, targeted HGV drivers should be able to prove that the entire thing was intentional and that they are not at fault.

Evidence for Insurance

Even if there’s no evidence that the accident was a “crash-for-cash” scam, dash cameras can still be quite useful, especially when insurance companies are determining liability. Most cases are generally determined by eyewitness accounts, which are usually spotty and often miss crucial details. A dash cam’s footage can provide insurers with factual, impartial evidence to help determine who’s at fault. Installing a dash cam is one of the best ways to avoid disputes and to ensure that you are not found to be at fault for an accident that you did not cause.

Cheaper Insurance Premiums

Be it you drive one HGV or own a fleet of them, it is safe to assume that you understand how expensive insuring these vehicles can be. It is even worse if you have not had a license for long, or have been a victim of a crash-for-cash scam in the past.

The good thing though is that insurance companies are starting to see how dash cams can make their work easier, making those blurry eyewitness testimonies a thing of the past and considerably expediting cases. In fact, insurers have come to like dash cams so much that they are now having their brokers offer discounts for companies or drivers who equip their HGVs or other commercial vehicles with a dash cam. So, dash cams aren’t just a way to protect yourself; you can also get to enjoy some great savings.

Create a Driver Behaviour Record

Then there is the divisive option. If you own a fleet of HGVs, having dash cams installed is a great idea that comes with some bonuses. However, for your driver, having these cameras installed could be hard to get on with and if you are independent, doing so may not have such a major impact. But for fleet managers, dual-lensed dash cams offer the ability to monitor driver behaviour and driving skills. This could work very well with your telemetric data and could help you make sure that all your drivers drive responsible and positively represent your company.