1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168 
Makers of in-vehicle camera aim to 'halve fleet accidents'
Page 14
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
By Chris Tindall A SPECIALISED dual-lens camera that records driver behaviour the instant they are involved in an accident is being marketed as a tool to improve driving habits and reduce insurance premiums.
The AonSmartDrive safety programme monitors unsafe acts on the road, and the makers are aiming to halve commercial fleet accidents through its use.
The in-vehicle unit uses g-force and speed sensors to capture 30-second video clips during an incident, which are then reviewed online to identify driving errors.
Aon and SmartDrive have teamed up to launch the product, but they admit the evidence has yet to be tested in a UK court of law. However, SmartDrive Europe MD Scott Raske says it has underwriters supporting the system, which will help to reduce operators' insurance premiums. He adds: "All the client has to do is ask their broker. Most brokers have an idea which underwriter supports it."
The makers hope that the evidence can also be used to eliminate behaviour such as tailgating, speeding or even eating at the wheel.
A spokeswoman for the two companies says they are aware of drivers' concerns about its spy-in-the-cab connotations, but she adds: "Once you explain to the drivers the positive impact, and that if an accident is not their fault we have the evidence to prove that, it's a good plus point for them.
The full system, including web analysis and risk management reviews as well as a remote panic button, can be leased from around £25 per vehicle per month, but varies depending on fleet size. The hardware can also be bought outright.