Trucking is a major driver of economic activity in British Columbia. According to the British Columbia Trucking Association (BCTA), its members employ more than 26,000 people, operate nearly 14,000 vehicles, and generate $2b in annual revenue in the province.
However, there have also been safety issues. While large trucks are involved in fewer than 1% of all crashes in BC, they are involved in almost 20% of the fatal ones. The calls for better safety measures following these tragedies have included a requirement for dashcams, or dashboard-mounted video cameras that can record crashes in real time.
In response, the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC) has now required forward-facing dashcams to be installed on certain large trucks beginning May 1, 2025.
The ICBC is a “provincial Crown corporation” created by the BC government to provide universal auto insurance to BC motorists, plus licensing, vehicle registration, safety promotion, and other services. The ICBC established the requirement for dashcams to reduce collisions and the economic and human toll they exact and to help establish the cause and fault of the crashes that do occur for use in litigation.
Optional Extension Third-Party Liability will require a dashcam
The requirement is not universal. It applies only to ICBC customers operating long-haul commercial vehicles rated for out-of-province travel and carrying $10 million CAD in Optional Extension Third Party Liability (TPE) coverage. If a dashcam is not installed or the customer fails to respond to a required questionnaire before the policy renewal date, their Optional Extension Liability coverage is limited to $5 million.
A requirement with multiple benefits
Additional liability coverage beyond $5 million can be critically important to a variety of groups. It protects commercial trucking companies from the high cost of liability claims, which can easily exceed $5 million, and it allows them to work in other provinces or the US, where higher liability coverage may be required. Independent owner-operators have access to customers with larger liability requirements and protection from financial devastation, including bankruptcy, in the event of a serious crash. With the dashcam’s ability to establish fault with video evidence, insurance companies — including the ICBC — can weed out fraud and reduce litigation costs. And victims with real claims can reach settlements more efficiently and get the compensation they’re entitled to.
Regardless of requirements, dashcams are here to stay
For the reasons stated above and more, dashcam adoption among truck fleets is moving full speed ahead, with approximately 85% of truck fleets now using some form of video monitoring. Numerous studies have consistently demonstrated that dashcams improve safety.
Basic forward-facing dashcams, such as those the ICBC will require, can make drivers more aware of high-risk habits in addition to recording any events. However, dashcams and video safety systems are available at different levels of capability and cost, and fleets should consider which systems best meet their needs.
Even basic dashcams offer options for continuous or event-triggered recording and cloud or SD card storage. GPS and telematics can be integrated into dashcams to provide data on speed, braking, and acceleration, which can impact legal and insurance discussions.
Driver-facing cameras add an additional level of safety, observing dangers on the road ahead and the driver’s own risky behaviors, such as drowsy or distracted driving. Multi-camera systems are excellent at providing a 360° view of the road around the vehicle for full situational awareness and evidence of trucks being sideswiped or rear-ended.
AI-enabled systems take safety a step further, including driver alerts, in-cab driver coaching, and predictive analytics to identify and establish risk levels for individual drivers. The most comprehensive video safety systems also include professional reviews of recorded incidents and recommendations for remedial actions or additional training. When attached to driver training programs, they can be extremely effective at improving driver safety.
Whether dashcams are added to your fleet to comply with regulations or as part of a commitment to improving safety, your business, drivers, and the communities you serve will all benefit from the decision. For a deeper dive into choosing the right video safety solution, check out our 12-Point Buying Guide to Video-Based Safety Systems and make an informed decision for your fleet.