Ford Pro has introduced Telematics with Dashcam – an innovative new solution for commercial vehicle fleets that seamlessly integrates video evidence from an OEM-grade dashcam with the secure and intelligent Ford Pro Telematics platform.
The new offering has been developed to help businesses protect themselves against unfair insurance claims and fulfil their duty of care obligations to drivers, all while building driver trust and addressing privacy concerns.
New research commissioned by Ford Pro highlights the critical need for such a solution – painting a stark picture of the challenges facing commercial fleets particularly as a result of the insurance “blame game”.
Across the UK, more than four in five fleet managers (81 per cent) report that they believe their drivers have been wrongly blamed in accidents, leading to operational disruptions.
Knock-on impacts were suffered by approximately one quarter of fleet manager respondents, ranging from reputational damage (26 per cent) to increased vehicle repair costs (25 per cent) and significant management time spent resolving liability issues (25 per cent).
“Our research highlights a frustrating reality for UK van drivers: without clear evidence, they are often the first to be blamed following an incident on the road. Ford Pro Telematics with Dashcam is designed to end this ‘blame game.’ By integrating high-definition video directly into our existing software platform, we are providing a ‘silent witness’ that can exonerate drivers, protect their professional reputations, and save businesses from the significant financial hit of unfair insurance claims,” said Jeremy Gould, Ford Pro Solutions, Europe.
Combating unfair blame and financial exposure
Ford Pro’s survey of 750 van drivers, 250 fleet managers, and 250 insurance brokers suggests an anti-van bias when it comes to deciding who is at fault following accidents, with van drivers and operators often left with little choice but to settle for 50/50 outcomes even when they believe they were not at fault.
Responses from insurance brokers corroborated this. More than two thirds (71 per cent) of insurance brokers reported that a lack of clear evidence resulted in unfair 50/50 outcomes in more than one quarter (26 to 100 per cent) of cases for their van-driving clients, with almost a third (32 per cent) specifically identifying vans as one of the vehicle types most at risk of being held liable in incidents lacking clear evidence.
Insurance brokers also reported that a lack of clear evidence resulted in a 50/50 outcome for van-driving clients who they believed were not at fault in an average 43 per cent of cases – making van drivers more likely than heavy goods vehicles, taxis, private passenger vehicles, buses, motorbikes and cyclists to shoulder some responsibility for accidents they likely did not cause.
In addition, 84 per cent of fleet managers reported being concerned about the financial impact of vans in their fleets being held liable in accidents which aren’t their fault.
Ford Pro Telematics with Dashcam is designed to redress the balance through:
- Irrefutable evidence: Providing the objective, reliable video evidence that more than half of brokers (52 per cent) say insurers increasingly rely on for liability decisions. This can help overturn unjust blame, expedite claims resolution, and protect drivers from unfair 50/50 outcomes
- Tangible financial savings: Insurance brokers estimate that fitting a dashcam could lead to an average insurance premium reduction of 11.5 per cent for driver-facing systems, a belief shared by more than half (51 per cent) of insurance brokers
Building trust through privacy, security and safety
Dashcams have fast become essential tools for commercial vehicle operators. Ford Pro’s research found 84 per cent of van drivers are already driving a vehicle with one installed. However, for those drivers and fleets yet to adopt the technology, privacy concerns remain a significant barrier.
Almost half (49 per cent) of fleet managers cited driver privacy concerns or driver acceptance and union considerations as key concerns. In addition, more than one third (36 per cent) of van drivers without a dashcam cited not wanting to be watched as a primary reservation.
However, the research also showed three quarters (75 per cent) of van drivers would either be okay with being recorded if the footage is secure or would welcome it if it helps them drive more safely.
Ford Pro’s OEM-level solution is designed to prioritise privacy and help build trust. Developed in partnership with Lytx, a global leader in video telematics, the new system stores footage on a 128 GB microSD card protected by security screws. Using connectivity from the built-in modem in Ford commercial vehicles, the system supports live video streaming directly to the Ford Pro Telematics platform for authorised access.
In addition, the new system can use AI and machine vision technology to identify high-risk behaviours such as distracted driving, mobile phone usage, smoking, eating and drinking, not wearing seatbelts, and even signs of driver fatigue. This allows for proactive coaching – aligning with the beliefs of the 32 per cent of fleet managers who view dashcams primarily as a tool for duty of care to drivers.
All angles covered
Ford Pro’s dashcam offers high definition 1080p recording from 96-degree road-facing and 144-degree in-cab wide-angle lenses, with integrated infrared for low-light conditions.
The system triggers video capture based on Ford Pro Telematics events like harsh braking or speeding, and drivers can also manually activate recording to document specific incidents.
Ford’s research showed complexity of installation is considered a barrier to dashcam adoption by more than one quarter (26 per cent) of fleet managers. Ford Pro Dashcam with Telematics has been developed to address this concern.
The mounting bracket is designed to fits all windshields, and customers can choose to install the units themselves or Ford’s professional installation partner, with both plug-and-play and hardwired installation options available for fleet vehicles regardless of make or model.
Ford Pro Dashcam with Telematics is available for customers in the UK now.
