AI Dash Cams enable accident reduction and driver exonerations.
Sunrun hadn’t used dash cams in their fleet before, so they decided to trial Samsara AI Dash Cams in two locations to see how the cameras would benefit them. After in-cab alerts helped them avoid distracted driving and speeding during the pilot program, moving forward with a large-scale rollout was an easy decision.
In-cab alerts quickly delivered value for Sunrun by helping drivers proactively improve safety. Within the first year of rolling out AI Dash Cams across their fleet, they reduced their vehicle accident rate by 32%. Real-time, in-cab audio alerts prompt drivers to self-correct when behaviors like drowsiness, distracted driving, and speeding are detected. Sunrun looked to tackle drowsiness behind the wheel after experiencing an uptick in incidents. “Since turning on the Drowsiness Detection alert, we’ve prevented drowsy driving incidents,” said Bateman. Samsara’s Drowsiness Detection alert helps their drivers stay safe and alert when actions like yawning and face-rubbing are recognized.
Beyond helping drivers build safer habits, Samsara AI Dash Cams protect drivers from being held liable when they’re involved in not-at-fault accidents. “As adoption increases, drivers are not only more used to the cameras but appreciative, especially as they hear more examples of drivers being exonerated,” said Joe Witt, Senior Manager, Fleet & Facilities Operations. “Now, our drivers want dash cams in their vehicles." To further promote dash cam buy-in, Sunrun holds safety contests for drivers with high-value prizes such as vacations, TVs, and gift cards. And it works — today, drivers’ outlook on dash cams is increasingly positive and safety is improving at rapid rates.
Vehicle Telematics optimize fleet utilization and shorten response times.
Over the years, Sunrun tried several telematics systems, continuously looking for a platform that provided the granular level of data they needed to optimize their fleet. Their previous system required manual data collection and provided limited reporting, which made tracking vehicle utilization and location a challenge.
Using Samsara Vehicle Telematics, Sunrun gained a complete view of their vehicles’ locations and usage. When they need to act quickly, live GPS tracking instantly and accurately locates their vehicles. In a recent example, one of Sunrun’s vehicles was stolen but with Samsara’s real-time visibility and alerts, the team successfully located and recovered the vehicle in 15 minutes.
Informed by Utilization Reports, they now reallocate unused vehicles to branches in need of resources, ultimately improving utilization by 23% and avoiding new vehicle purchases.