News

A windscreen-mounted digital camera with the potential to slash operators' insurance premiums by preventing fraudulent claims against them, has been launched by Vision-Techniques. The X-Driven, which is plugged into a truck's ciga-rette lighter, records a view of the road ahead and instantly downloads the footage onto its integral SD memory card.

It remains in the memory for between eight and 33 hours (depending on the recording quality setting chosen) before being overridden. The £250  device has G-shock sensors, which detect any sudden or sharp movements - such as heavy braking, swerving or a collision. Such manoeuvres automatically trigger the 'save' function, which permanently stores the footage from 30 seconds prior to, and 30 seconds following the event.

This allows you to see both the build-up and the aftermath, both of which could be invaluable in the case of an insurance claim. Similarly, the driver can manually save footage if he chooses.

X-Driven has a GPS facility, and interfaces with either Google Maps or Google Earth. This allows the viewer to see the vehicle's speed and location at the time of the incident. Vision-Techniques sales manager Andy Kendal says the device is already attracting a great deal of attention. Both Tarmac and Greggs are about to commence trials, and one police force is using it in its driver training vehicles.

"There's no reason why it couldn't be used to train truck drivers either," he says. But according  to Kendal, one of the main benefits to fitting X-Driven is to improve your chances of winning insurance claims, and preventing fraudulent claims against you. He gives the all-too familiar example of a truck that hits the rear of a car. "Although there is clearly only one person in the car, five people claim whiplash injuries," he says. "Now you've got the physical evidence."