Safety and security are compelling reasons to invest in new technology, the company believes,
and Centrad functionality provides everything needed
North-West operator Ashcrofts Mini Travel has invested in integrated AI-powered dashcam solutions to deliver a safer, more reliable service for its passengers and drivers. The coach and minibus operator has now partnered with vehicle CCTV and camera solutions specialist Centrad, after repeated challenges with unreliable systems and inconsistent support from other providers.
Centrad has extensive experience of the coach and bus sector, having supplied camera and telematics solutions to hundreds of fleets across the industry. Following Ashcrofts Mini Travel securing a high-profile service contract with Flixbus, the company called upon Centrad to add AI-powered dashcams to two of its Yutong GT12s to enhance the safety of its passengers and drivers while on the road. Centrad’s dual-camera system, which is traditionally mounted on a vehicle’s windscreen facing the driver, uses AI technology to deliver event alerts, as well as capture high-definition incident footage, and track driver behaviour. The manufacturer says the system can detect and identify unsafe actions such as failing to wear a seatbelt, drowsiness, mobile phone usage, and various forms of distracted driving, and when such behaviours are detected, the system emits an audible safety alert through its built-in speaker to encourage safer driving habits.
Ashcrofts’ dashcams are equipped with 4G connectivity, enabling real-time access to footage via the live view feature, which means
the company can monitor activity remotely, and the 4G download capability enables for the retrieval and saving of recordings when needed. Footage can also be downloaded and used for training purposes to educate drivers on best practice, by reviewing real-world scenarios.
Director at Ashcrofts Mini Travel Chris Ashcroft commented: “Safety is at the heart of everything we do here, and as a minibus and coach operator we want to give drivers and passengers the confidence that their well-being is of high priority. It’s about being proactive, rather than reactive by looking to prevent issues rather than responding to them after they happen.
“There are a lot of negative connotations with AI-powered dashcam systems, especially with regards to infringing on privacy. Fundamentally, they should be used to safeguard their welfare and to provide drivers with the necessary support to make them feel confident and secure while they’re out on the road, not as a surveillance tool, and that’s the position we take. If an incident occurs involving a passenger or the driver, we are able to quickly access and download footage within minutes to get to the bottom of it, so from a transparency perspective, it’s invaluable.”
Established in 2006 with a single minibus to his name, Ashcrofts Mini Travel has expanded its services to include minibus hire, corporate VIP hire, and coach hire, and through the acquisition of coach holiday provider Memory Lane in 2020, Ashcrofts extended its offering further into the leisure travel sector. Having grown its fleet over the years to 11 coaches and 15 minibuses, Chris Ashcroft says he took the strategic decision to partner with Centrad two years ago to supply solutions which would provide greater visibility over its fleet to not only provide tangible evidence in the event of incidents to smoothen the claims process, but also to ensure appropriate safeguarding measures for both passengers and drivers. Centrad retrofitted eight HD camera systems across Ashcrofts fleet of coaches.
Chris continued: “Having initially partnered with Centrad to retrofit camera solutions across our coach fleet we were initially hesitant as we had been let down by previous suppliers. However, upon meeting with them, we quickly got a sense of their knowledge of the industry and the high standards they hold themselves to, which very much mirrors our own ethos.
“Fast forward to the present day and the quality of their service levels, or products, haven’t dropped. If an issue arises their response time is swift and when you want to speak to someone you immediately get through to a company representative, rather than a call centre. They also partner with professional installers, which was an important factor for us when switching suppliers. During the installation process, it’s crucial to ensure that the technician retrofitting camera solutions onto a brand-new vehicle does so with the utmost professionalism and care.
“Unlike many of their counterparts within the camera and telematics industry, Centrad doesn’t tie customers into frustrating and daunting long-term contracts but instead looks to deliver a high-quality cost-effective service and range of products that are tailored to your operation and specific goals, rather than dictating what you need based on rigid packages.”
