If you’re looking into getting dashcams for your fleet, you’re making an excellent step toward improving your business’s safety and reliability. Dashcams improve your drivers’ behavior while protecting them from blame in the event of an accident. However, with all the different dashcam solutions on the market, how do you know which ones to pick? This guide will go over the different types of dashcams and how they work, making your decision easier. 

Which Way Does the Camera Face?

Front Facing Camera

These dashcams mount to the windshield and record the road in front of the vehicle. Their objective is to capture collisions and footage that can be used for coaching drivers. However, these cameras do not record the inside of the cabin. 

Exterior Dashcam

These cameras are usually mounted on the side and record the area directly around the vehicle. They can provide up to a 360-degree view around the vehicle and are often used to cover blind spots or when drivers have to make tricky turns. If fleets encounter too many sideswiping accidents, they’ll often invest in these cams. 

Rear Dashcams

These dashcams are installed near the license plate and record what is happening behind the vehicle. They’re meant to record anything happening while a driver is operating in reverse. 

Interior Dashcams

These cameras are mounted anywhere inside the vehicle, either in the cabin or in the trailer. They’re used to record driver behavior or prevent theft of goods from the trailer. 

Dual-Facing Dashcams

Dual-facing dashcams are typically mounted to the windshield or rearview mirror. They record the road in front of the vehicle and the driver's behavior behind the wheel. These devices can give a comprehensive view of everything happening on the road. Azuga’s AI SafetyCam is an example of one such camera that uses AI technology to automatically detect distracted driving behaviors and alert managers when it occurs. 

What to Look for in a Dashcam

• Driver Monitoring Features: The ability to analyze driver behavior in real-time is a significant asset. It is beneficial not only for keeping individual drivers on track and preventing accidents but for overall safety training as well. 
• In-Cab Coaching: When a risky event occurs, you want to be able to coach your drivers right then and there, and your dashcam can help you do this if it has in-cab coaching enabled. Alerts and warning messages will sound over the system, making them aware of their unsafe behaviors. 
• Automatic Event Detection: Your dashcam should connect to your telematics and fleet management system to give you a comprehensive view of everything going on within your vehicles. 
• Data Analysis Tools: You should be able to summarize your information with easily digestible data tools that allow you to track trends and make critical decisions. 
• High-Quality Imagery: A dashcam is useless if you can’t tell what’s happening in the picture. Make sure the video footage is at least 1080p. 
• Easy-to-Install: You’ll be installing a lot of dashcams; don’t create a huge chore for yourself by picking something difficult to implement. 

Get the Best Dashcam

Azuga’s AI SafetyCam has all of the features mentioned in this article and far more. It pairs with Azuga’s comprehensive fleet management solution to cover all aspects of fleet management. Whatever your business goals regarding your fleet, Azuga can help you accomplish them. Speak to an expert today and see what we can achieve together.