Video footage from in-cab cameras proves drivers not at fault

At Vp Brandon Hire Station, safety is our top priority. We start safe, we work safe, and we go home safe. 

When we invested in Samsara, I admit, it was a big change for all the drivers, especially when they found out about the inward-facing cameras. 

We got quite a bit of pushback because they didn't want to be watched 24/7. I understand that. But people need to understand that the cameras are there for one reason and one reason only: our drivers’ protection. 

We had an incident recently that brings home exactly why driver-facing cameras are so important. 

One of our drivers was joining the motorway when the car ahead began to drift out and then suddenly stopped. As our driver straightened up, a motorcyclist came up the inside on the hard shoulder and collided with the front passenger side of our vehicle. 

Thankfully, the dual-facing dashcam footage captured it all, and our colleague was exonerated. You can see from the footage that our driver did nothing wrong.

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Watching that again, I am so grateful that we had the cameras installed and the footage available instantly to help clear our driver of any wrongdoing. I don’t even want to think about what might have happened otherwise. 

Cameras protect drivers

For anyone who gets into a vehicle—especially those who drive for a living—the simple reality is that a crash can unfold in seconds. And unless the details leading up to such events are captured, the truth can disappear just as fast. Should that happen, then it’s our drivers—our work colleagues and friends—who are left carrying the can. 

As the Road Risk Manager across our operation, I’m the first one to see all the crash alerts. 

Which means that sometimes, I’m also the first to respond, even if an incident happens hundreds of miles away. Which is exactly what happened to Gary Penberthy, our General Manager in Plymouth. He was hit by a driver who didn’t stop at a junction. 

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Cameras are a lifesaver

Thanks to Samsara’s technology, I received an instant collision notification email alert. As soon as I received the footage, I was on the phone to our depot in Plymouth. Being so far away, I couldn’t get there myself that quickly, but we managed to get somebody to him before the paramedics arrived. 

Luckily, there was no lasting damage to those involved in both incidents, which is part of the reason we agreed to make these public. 

For me, though, these videos are essential viewing and underline exactly why this technology is so important. Because at the end of the day, we just want to make sure everybody’s safe and that they all go home to their families.

When it comes to the cameras, our drivers don’t even think about them anymore. They’ve seen how they protect people, so that now, they forget that they’re there. Cameras are such a powerful tool. They could save someone's life.