Dash cams and other vehicle cameras are a ‘must-have’ for fleets in the event of an accident, providing essential protection for drivers against false accusations, lengthy investigations, and spurious insurance claims.

Whether it’s a fatal incident requiring rapid scene analysis, a collision where liability is disputed, or a driver falsely accused of wrongdoing, dash cam footage and associated telematics data are increasingly vital to provide the context needed to resolve investigations. 

That was just one of the key takeaways to emerge from a recent Samsara User Group (SUG) meeting held in London, which detailed how instant access to video means drivers are being cleared faster while operators avoid months of unnecessary legal and operational disruption.

How dash cams are helping drivers avoid wrongful blame

One of the speakers – Sergeant Robert Beckers from the Metropolitan Police’s Commercial Vehicle Unit – offered straight-talking advice about what happens when a serious road incident occurs.

He explained that fleet drivers are often treated as potential suspects at the scene, not out of bias, but to ensure their legal rights are preserved. In such high-stress moments, he explained, having quick access to dash cam footage can prevent wrongful arrest, avoid vehicles being seized, and shorten the investigative process significantly. 

He cited one tragic case where a pedestrian deliberately stepped into the path of a 32-tonne HGV. Within 45 minutes, the driver was exonerated, with both internal and external camera footage showing the lorry driver had performed multiple mirror checks and acted entirely appropriately. 

“What more could that driver have done?” he asked the 80-strong audience. “Absolutely nothing.”

The footage enabled police to close the case quickly, protecting the driver from unnecessary trauma and the operator from costly delays.  

Cameras in action: Lessons from Egertons

It was a point echoed by Tracy Leese from Egertons Recovery Group, who offered a different perspective on how dash cams are transforming the way incidents are managed.  

She shared an example in which an oncoming car veered across the centre line and collided with one of Egertons’ trucks. The footage showed that the Egertons' driver was on the correct side of the road, driving within the speed limit, and undistracted. 

Without that evidence, the driver might have faced a prolonged investigation and the vehicle could have been seized for mechanical inspection. Instead, the video exonerated the driver on the spot. 

“It allowed us to show the police exactly what happened,” said Leese. “That saved time, reduced disruption, and most importantly, gave our driver immediate reassurance. It’s not just about protecting the company or our drivers – this helps the police, too,” she said.

Visibility is critical to operational success

Discussing the broader impact of using Samsara’s platform to manage fleet operations, Leese said, “You can’t manage what you can’t see.” 

And thanks to increased visibility and data insights, the business has seen fewer incidents, improved driver morale, and a smoother insurance renewal process, with safety data playing a central role in discussions with underwriters.

Another customer – Andrew Sharp, Transport Shift Manager at food distribution company  Delifresh – used his presentation to emphasise the importance of turning data into action. He described how the business uses Samsara’s safety insights to trigger coaching conversations, detect patterns such as mobile phone use, and spot signs of fatigue. 

The company has embedded connected training into end-of-day workflows, requiring drivers to complete relevant modules before logging out of the app. The impact has been significant resulting in a 41% reduction in road traffic incidents, a 54% drop in unnecessary redelivery miles, and a clear rise in driver buy-in.

“It’s not just about compliance,” said Sharp. “It’s about support and giving our drivers the confidence that we’re backing them, not just tracking them.”

A customer-first event with real-world impact 

Underlining the customer focus of the SUG, the day was hosted by Susan Moore from Brandon Hire Station, who opened the event by explaining how the UK-wide tool and equipment hire business has scaled its Samsara deployment across its growing fleet. 

Moore reported a 13-point increase in the company’s driver safety score over the past 12 months, alongside a series of sharp reductions in risky behaviours, including 63% fewer harsh events, 88% less speeding, and a 93% drop in mobile phone use.

These improvements have not only strengthened safety performance but also driven significant savings. 

“We reduced our fleet-related costs from £522,000 in 2023 to £330,000 in 2025 — a saving of £192,000,” she said.

Building a safer, smarter fleet with Samsara

Attendees also heard how Samsara is redefining safety with an update on our latest features, including Intelligent Safety Inbox and new AI-powered Insights. Other features include Electronic Brake Performance Monitoring System (EBPMS) and Tyre Pressure Monitoring Systems (TPMS), both of which form part of Samsara’s Smart Trailer Solution. 

Samsara continues  to innovate to bring solutions to our customers to help improve their safety and efficiency, including new Connected Training modules, weather and hazard overlays, advanced safety inbox filtering, and positive recognition features that automatically acknowledge safe and fuel-efficient driving. 

Our mission is to help operations run safer, more sustainable, and more efficient operations – and that means listening to what matters most to our customers. These features are built with our customers in mind and their feedback shapes where the platform goes next.

The next Samsara User Group (SUG) meeting will take place on 10 July 2025. If you’re interested in hearing directly from fellow operators, engaging with product teams, or seeing how other organisations are using data to drive real-world impact, register now!