For decades, Microlise have been working side by side transport and logistics businesses to help improve fleet safety, compliance and operational performance – all with the help of technology.

However, it is in this space, that innovation is often met with scepticism and doubt.

But as we’ve seen across our customer base and in wider industry conversations, when implemented properly and transparently, these solutions aren’t about surveillance – they’re about protection, safety and support.

Driver distraction takes many forms, and it’s one of the leading causes of road incidents. According to the RAC, 63% of drivers admit to making mistakes due to distractions – whether from daydreaming, talking to passengers or factors inside and outside the vehicle.

Our own research echoes this: drivers are four times more likely to be involved in an accident if distracted, and distraction contributes to a third of fatal accidents and almost half of serious injury incidents. These aren’t abstract statistics – they represent lives changed forever.

“It’s understandable why some drivers might feel uneasy about having a camera facing them,” explains Nadeem Raza, Microlise CEO.

“Nobody likes the idea of being watched. But the reality is that in most implementations, these systems aren’t there to spy on people – they’re there to provide context, fairness and protection when things go wrong.”

At Microlise, we’ve always championed technology that supports people, not technology for technology’s sake. Driver-facing cameras are a great example of this in action.

Footage from these cameras provides context to incidents that external cameras or telematics data alone cannot deliver. This is especially vital when drivers face unfair blame or false accusations.

“As an industry, we need to acknowledge that cameras can be a driver’s best ally, not their enemy,” Nadeem adds.

“They help paint the full picture – whether it’s supporting a driver in the event of an insurance claim, or highlighting where further training might help improve safety.”

For technology like this to work effectively, it must be implemented with sensitivity and transparency. We’ve seen that where operators engage openly with drivers, clearly explaining how and why this data is used, adoption becomes far easier.

Trust is built not by surveillance, but through clarity: that footage is typically reviewed in response to specific incidents, not as a tool for day-to-day micromanagement.

Nadeem reinforces this point: “Technology is only as effective as the culture in which it’s deployed. When drivers understand it’s there to protect them, not to punish them, attitudes shift.”

Distraction cameras, combined with vehicle cameras, telematics and proactive reporting tools, form part of a wider strategy to improve fleet safety, reduce risk and ultimately protect livelihoods.

At Microlise, we support businesses with the technology to achieve these goals, but we also provide the consultative expertise to ensure solutions are introduced and embedded effectively.

With the right approach, these technologies help reduce insurance claims, cut costs, improve driver training and uphold the highest standards of safety and compliance – benefits that ripple across the entire business. As seen by many our customers using our on-vehicle camera solutions.

For Direct Sameday, they were able to resolve 41% of the company’s disputable claims using camera footage.

We’ll continue to advocate for technology that helps fleets operate more safely, more efficiently and with greater confidence. Driver-facing cameras may not always be a comfortable topic, but when they’re positioned as part of a broader safety culture, they’re not the enemy – they’re a vital tool for progress.

“Our mission is to help organisations protect their people and their businesses,” concludes Nadeem.

“Driver-facing cameras are just one way we’re doing that.”