How Dash Cams Deliver ROI for
the U.S. Public Sector

The Public Sector Dash Cam ROI Report analyzes survey data from 400 U.S. public sector leaders across federal, state, and local governments, as well as educational institutions. It reveals the real-world impact of dash cam adoption, specifically focusing on return on investment (ROI), safety improvements, and operational efficiencies.

The Public Sector Dash Cam ROI Report is designed for government agency leaders, fleet managers, and public sector decision-makers who are evaluating safety technology or defending budgets. It provides data-backed evidence to help undecided agencies and those facing internal pushback understand the financial and safety benefits of dash cam adoption.

Key findings from the survey of 400 public sector leaders include:


• Rapid ROI: 89% of agencies see a return on investment within the first six months of deployment.

• Exoneration is a primary benefit: 95% agree that dash cam footage is a "game changer" for challenging false claims, and 91% used footage to exonerate a driver in the past year.

• Insurance savings: 98% of agencies with dash cams saw their annual insurance premiums decrease.

• Budget impact: 96% say dash cams have reduced costs, freeing up money in their agency’s budget.

• Safety improvements: 98% of agencies report that dash cams make their employees safer.

The survey was conducted by Wakefield Research, an independent market research firm, between September 23rd and October 6th, 2025. It consisted of 20 questions fielded to 400 U.S. public sector decision-makers managing fleets of 100 or more assets. The respondents were evenly split with 100 respondents per segment across:

• Federal government

• State government (DOTs, transit, public works)

• Local government (cities, counties)

• Education (K-12, higher education, school districts)

Please note, in sections where respondents have been segmented by industry and split between those who have adopted dash cams and those who have not, the findings are considered a low base size and findings are directional.

According to a survey of 400 U.S. public sector leaders, dash cams deliver rapid financial returns.

• 89% of agencies report seeing ROI within the first six months of deployment. 

• Among agencies that achieved ROI within that six-month window, 93% went on to save over $100,000 annually.

Yes, wider deployment of dash cams significantly improve ROI. The data reveals that agencies with "high deployment" (dash cams installed in 50% or more of their fleet) see higher value than those with smaller rollouts.

• Higher savings: 68% of high-deployment agencies saved $100,000 or more from exonerations, compared to only 54% of those with fewer cameras.

• Better crime prevention: 50% of high-deployment agencies reported a reduction in vehicle theft and vandalism, compared to 36% of those with fewer cameras.

• More frequent exonerations: 56% of high-deployment agencies used footage for exoneration multiple times in the past year, compared to 49% of those with lower deployment.

Dash cams help lower insurance premiums by providing objective evidence that exonerates drivers, reducing the frequency of fraudulent claims, and demonstrating a proactive commitment to safety—a key factor for insurers when assessing risk. 

This report found that 98% of agencies with dash cams saw their annual insurance premiums decrease, even amidst a market of rising costs.

Here is how dash cams directly impact insurance costs:

• Exoneration and liability defense: Dash cams provide video evidence that can prove a driver was not at fault during an accident. This eliminates "he-said, she-said" scenarios, preventing unjust payouts and protecting the organization's claims history.

• Fraud prevention: Video footage effectively disputes staged accidents or false injury claims, which are major drivers of increased premiums.

• Improved driver behavior: The presence of cameras often encourages safer driving habits. When combined with AI coaching, this leads to fewer accidents overall, signaling a lower risk profile to insurance providers.

• Negotiating power: Organizations can leverage their safety data during policy renewals. For example, 63% of education agencies and 64% of state government agencies reported saving $10,000 or more annually by utilizing dash cam technology to prove their fleet's safety performance.

Dash cams help lower insurance premiums by providing objective evidence that exonerates drivers, reducing the frequency of fraudulent claims, and demonstrating a proactive commitment to safety—a key factor for insurers when assessing risk. 

This report found that 98% of agencies with dash cams saw their annual insurance premiums decrease, even amidst a market of rising costs.

Here is how dash cams directly impact insurance costs:

• Exoneration and liability defense: Dash cams provide video evidence that can prove a driver was not at fault during an accident. This eliminates "he-said, she-said" scenarios, preventing unjust payouts and protecting the organization's claims history.

• Fraud prevention: Video footage effectively disputes staged accidents or false injury claims, which are major drivers of increased premiums.

• Improved driver behavior: The presence of cameras often encourages safer driving habits. When combined with AI coaching, this leads to fewer accidents overall, signaling a lower risk profile to insurance providers.

• Negotiating power: Organizations can leverage their safety data during policy renewals. For example, 63% of education agencies and 64% of state government agencies reported saving $10,000 or more annually by utilizing dash cam technology to prove their fleet's safety performance.

Dash cams are highly effective for exoneration and insurance savings are one of the clearest indicators of ROI for government fleets. 95% of public sector leaders agree that dash cam footage is a "game changer" for challenging false claims. In the past year alone, 91% of agencies with dash cams used footage to successfully exonerate a driver, saving significant legal costs and administrative time.

Driver exoneration is one of the clearest ways dash cams deliver ROI. The report reveals that government agencies see significant savings from using dash cams to defend false claims and exonerate drivers. 91% of agencies with dash cams have used footage to exonerate a driver in the past year. Of those agencies, the vast majority saved significant funds:

• Local Government: 97% saved $100,000 or more.

• Federal Government: 96% saved $100,000 or more.

• State Government: 88% saved $100,000 or more.

• Education: 87% saved $100,000 or more.

Yes, dash cams are increasingly used for infrastructure maintenance. 72% of federal agencies and 65% of local governments with dash cams use footage to identify and correct infrastructure issues like potholes and unsafe roads. This allows teams to identify repairs faster and improve road safety for the general public.

Video evidence eliminates the manual back-and-forth between departments and legal teams. 54% of agencies with dash cams report saving a week or more on the investigation and resolution process for every incident.

Yes, dash cams are shown to improve driver behavior. Among agencies that have adopted dash cams, there is near-unanimous agreement (98%) that the technology makes employees safer. Specific reported benefits include:

• 70% seen improved driver behavior.

• 68% seen fewer crashes or traffic incidents among employees.

• 57% reported shorter turnaround times on internal investigations.

While privacy is a common concern, 98% of leaders agree that dash cams improve employee safety, which is key to overcoming hesitation. Successful agencies typically:

• Establish clear policies: Leaders cite standardized policies as the #1 solution to address privacy barriers.

• Use privacy-focused features: Modern AI dash cams, like Samsara AI Dash Cam, offer automatic face blurring and no-audio recording options to protect driver privacy.

• Leverage exoneration data: 97% of education agencies have used footage to exonerate an employee, helping frame the technology as a tool for driver protection rather than surveillance.

Yes, public acceptance of dash cams is high. 73% of leaders report that the public either supports or expects them to use dash cams to ensure transparency and accountability. Only 6% of agencies report facing strong public backlash. Education leaders report the highest level of public backing, with 88% believing the public supports the technology.