MANDATORY DASHBOARD CAMERAS FOR COMMERCIAL TRUCKS IN BRITISH COLUMBIA (2023)

Issue

Commercial vehicles play a vital role in the economy of British Columbia, and ensuring their safe operation is a top priority for the trucking industry. One tool that can help improve the safety of commercial vehicles on B.C. roads is the installation of mandatory forward-facing dashboard cameras.

This low-cost measure will improve accountability and provide data/information to make B.C.’s roads a safer place for everyone, minimizing disruptions to our supply chain networks which are so vital to our economy.

Background

Commercial truck accidents can cause significant negative consequences to human lives, property, and the environment. When accidents occur, the temporary closure of highways or roadways can also have an impact on business, as supply chain networks are disrupted. Despite the regulations and rules and mandatory training for commercial truck drivers, accidents still occur due to human errors, driving under the influence, fatigue, and other factors.

In an average year in B.C., large trucks are involved in less than one percent of all crashes – but they’re involved in nearly 20 percent of fatal crashes. On average between 2011 and 2015, 285 people were killed each year on B.C.’s roads and highways – 61 of them in crashes involving at least one large commercial vehicle. In the Interior of B.C., Mayor Ward Stamer of the District of Barriere, has called for mandatory dashboard cameras for commercial vehicles, in the wake of two fatal crashes along Highway 5.

In recent years, dashboard cameras have become an affordable and effective tool for monitoring driving behavior and providing evidence in case of accidents. Dash cams can capture video footage of the driver's view of the road, vehicle speed, and other driving-related information.

There are many benefits to businesses who implement dashboard cameras in their commercial vehicles including:

• Improved safety: According to the BC Trucking Association, dashboard cameras can help reduce the frequency and severity of accidents, improve driver behaviour and lower insurance costs.
• Evidence in the event of accidents or disputes: Forward-facing cameras can capture valuable information about accidents and near-misses, providing valuable evidence in the event of an accident or dispute.
• Improved driver behaviour: The Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police notes that the use of dashboard cameras can improve driver behaviour by promoting accountability and encouraging safe driving practices.
• Cost savings: The use of dashboard cameras may reduce accident rates and the severity of accidents resulting in cost savings for commercial vehicle operators.

Therefore, the Government of B.C. should review the feasibility of this requirement and work with industry stakeholders to implement it effectively.

Whereas the amount of time each commercial semi-truck spends on the road, the weights they operate with, and the braking distances involved in stopping commercial semi-trucks;

And whereas the use of dashboard cameras can encourage commercial truck driver accountability in adhering to safe driving practices and can be affordable insurance in providing undeniable evidence for the almost inevitable near misses that professional drivers contend with in doing their job.

This resolution has been reviewed and is supported by the BC Trucking Association.

THE CHAMBER RECOMMENDS

That the Provincial Government:

1. Work with industry stakeholders, the BC Trucking Association and the BC Chamber of Commerce to review the feasibility of requiring all commercial semi-trucks registered in British Columbia to have dashboard cameras installed and in operation while driving within the Province of B.C. This feasibility should consider including an assessment of the potential benefits and costs associated with implementing such a requirement, including the potential impact on commercial truck operators and insurance companies.
2. The review should also consider the potential impact on driver privacy and develop guidelines for the appropriate use and storage of dashboard camera data.
3. Develop training programs for commercial truck drivers on the appropriate use and benefits of dashboard cameras.