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The Fleet Manager’s Guide to AI Dash Cams | MICHELIN Connected Fleet

Written by MICHELIN Connected Fleet | Aug 29, 2025 7:55:55 AM

Considering the frequency of road incidents, driver safety must remain a primary concern for fleet managers. Prioritising safety not only protects drivers and other road users, but also helps to prevent costly vehicle damage and minimise insurance claims.

Notably, commercial AI dash cams have become one of the most effective solutions in tackling these challenges. In this guide, we’ll look at how such technology increases road safety while offering advice on selecting the most suitable system for your fleet.

How Dash Cams Improve Road Safety (and Lower Your Insurance Costs)

Dash cams powered by AI improve road safety by recognising risky behaviours, such as sudden swerving or drifting across lanes, and provide instant warnings to the driver. These real-time alerts help stop accidents before they happen, creating safer conditions for all road users.

But, beyond preventing collisions, dash cams also deliver protection when incidents actually occur. Insurance disputes often come down to conflicting accounts, and without reliable proof, fleets can face unfair liability. With dash cams, however, every event is recorded as well as timestamped, giving clear evidence of what really happened and thereby guarding fleets from inflated insurance costs and fraudulent cases.

The Role of AI Dash Cams in Driver Coaching and Performance Monitoring

In addition to the actions of other road users, it’s important to remember that improving fleet safety also demands attention to a fleet’s own drivers. AI dash cams play a significant role here by increasing accountability and encouraging safer behaviour behind the wheel. For instance, in-cab driver behaviour monitoring systems can identify risks, including:

  • Distracted driving
  • Signs of fatigue
  • Mobile phone use
  • Smoking while driving

When such behaviours are detected, the system offers immediate alerts, acting as a coach to correct unsafe habits on the spot. At the same time, the dash cam shares video footage with the manager, enabling performance reviews and allowing them to design targeted driver training programmes based on real-world events. In essence, these systems can highlight areas for improvement and reinforce best practices across the fleet.

5 Key Features to Look for in a Dash Cam for Commercial Vehicles

There are five particular features in a dash cam fleet that managers of commercial vehicles should be looking for, those that truly enhance safety, accountability, and reliability:

  1. Crystal-clear video quality: High-resolution recording is vital for capturing details like number plates and road signs, even in poor lighting or at night.

  2. Automatic activation: A dash cam should switch on with the ignition and automatically save footage when unusual movement or impact is detected.

  3. Wide-angle coverage: A broad field of view increases the likelihood of recording as many incident details as possible.

  4. Built-in GPS: GPS technology alongside video footage provides valuable location context when reviewing and analysing events.

  5. Secure, reliable storage: Dependable storage guarantees that important footage is preserved and easy to retrieve when needed.

AI-Powered Dash Cams vs. Traditional Models: What’s the Real Difference?

Conventional dash cams serve a basic but limited purpose. That is, they record video that can later be reviewed after an incident. While useful as evidence, they do little to actively prevent accidents or support drivers in the moment.

AI-powered dash cams, on the other hand, take a proactive approach. Using advanced algorithms, they analyse video in real time, detecting hazards, monitoring driver behaviour, and issuing instant alerts when risks arise. This means they don’t just capture events, they instead help stop them from happening in the first place.

Moreover, AI dash cams generally include features specifically made for fleet operations. Emergency notifications, integration with fleet management software, and cloud-based access allow managers to review footage remotely and receive immediate updates. In contrast, traditional devices typically store footage locally, making them far less effective when, for example, rapid resolution of an insurance dispute is required.

How to Choose the Right Dash Cam System for Your Fleet

Choosing a fleet AI dash cam depends on your specific goals. Some managers may focus on monitoring driver behaviour and tailoring coaching programmes, while others might need tools such as GPS tracking, cloud-based storage, or integration with wider fleet management solutions. Defining your priorities from the outset guarantees you select a product that delivers the greatest return on investment.

At MICHELIN Connected Fleet, we are at the forefront of AI in fleet management. As such, our range of dash cams for fleets combines all of the latest functionality in order to enhance safety, simplify operations, and control costs.

If you’re looking to reduce risk, improve efficiency, and gain greater visibility over the performance of your fleet, then be sure to make an enquiry into our services today.