Video Event Data Recorder Provides Crew Ally

Superior Air-Ground Ambulance Service in Illinois, Indiana and Michigan has implemented Digital Ally’s DVM-250 Video Event Data Recorder (VEDR) in all of their ambulances in all three states, as well as some of their service vehicles. That’s about 225 units deployed, says Director of Risk and Safety Ken Sink.

“It’s an ally for our crew members being that the majority of the time we do things right,” he says.

In addition, “Safety for our crews is number one, and it is a behavioral tool for driving,” he notes.

The entire video system is integrated into a rear-view mirror, to minimize space usage and avoid interfering with the driver’s line of sight.

In the event of a collision, it can automatically record valuable details such as the position of the vehicle and color of a traffic light.

Sink says his agency has also found it useful for something they didn’t expect: if an incident doesn’t trigger a recording because it’s minor or doesn’t impact the vehicle, the crew can still hit the record button and capture it manually. Since the system is always recording, it will save the moments leading up to the incident as well. “It goes back 28 seconds and holds the recording,” Sink says.

He adds that it’s been valuable having the staff trained to capture video, as well as how to share it on the spot. An employee recently utilized this ability to capture and share the approach of a vehicle after it rear-ended the ambulance.

“Knock on wood, we haven’t had any activated as a result of major collisions,” Sink says. “If it’s preventing collisions, it’s serving its purpose.”

The company started using the system in August of last year and is still outfitting the rest of its fleet, including wheelchair vans, which will be another 250 units.

In addition to the safety benefits, the investment is expected to create savings in litigation and vehicle wear-and-tear.

“It will pay for itself at some point,” Sink says.

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