The New B.C. Dash Camera Mandate Signals a New Era for Fleet Safety and Insurance
British Columbia has become the first Canadian province to mandate road-facing dashboard cameras for large commercial vehicles, reinforcing the growing role of video technology in fleet safety and risk management. The bill began as a private member’s bill introduced by Kamloops-North Thompson MLA Ward Stamer following a series of fatal crashes on Highway 5 and concerns raised by affected families and the trucking industry. The new law comes as insurance providers across North America increasingly rely on telematics and dash cam data to evaluate fleet performance, looking beyond accident history to real-time driving behaviours such as harsh braking, speeding, distracted driving, and near-miss incidents.
Source: Truck News
Bill M217 Requires Commercial Fleets Traveling in B.C. to Have Road-Facing Dash Cams
If your fleet uses B.C. roads, this likely applies to you. Once the law receives final Royal Assent and becomes active, fleets will have about six months to comply, so planning should start early to avoid delays during rollout.
The law Sets Clear Requirements for Dash Cams
Under the new requirements, all required vehicles must have forward-facing cameras that record the road through the windshield while driving. The cameras must record continuously, remain unobstructed, and operate in all lighting conditions, including at night. The minimum video quality required is 1080p, and the system must store at least 72 hours of footage. The purpose is to ensure there is reliable video evidence available after incidents, so investigations, insurance claims, and safety reviews can be handled faster and more accurately.
Six Months May Sound Like a Long Time, But Fleets Should Start Looking Now
The compliance timeline will begin after Royal Assent, which is the final approval of the law. Once this step is completed, fleets will have six months before the law becomes fully active. Although the bill has already passed, enforcement details such as penalties and exemptions will be released closer to the implementation date, based on the existing transportation safety frameworks. However, companies are strongly advised to begin planning now by auditing their fleets, finding compliant equipment, and scheduling installations to avoid last-minute delays and/or penalties.
Why It Matters: In Trucking, Incidents Are Not Always Clear
According to the BC Trucking Association, commercial vehicle drivers are not at fault in approximately 75% to 80% of collisions involving commercial vehicles.
Without video evidence, proving fault can take weeks or even months. During that time, fleets and drivers are left dealing with delays, disputes, and insurance uncertainty.
A dash cam changes that by providing clear, time-stamped footage of exactly what happened. It removes guesswork, speeds up claims, and helps protect drivers from unfair blame.
FleetHunt Helps Fleets Stay Ahead of This Change
Beyond compliance, modern dash cam systems provide much greater value for fleet safety and management. FleetHunt delivers a complete fleet intelligence solution backed by 24/7 customer support. Our dash cameras meet or exceed B.C.’s minimum requirements with 1080p recording, night vision, and 100 hours of video storage by default. Combining continuous SD card recording, live view, Ai, and cloud-based event storage features, FleetHunt dash cam systems ensure that critical footage is easily captured and protected. Combined with fast local installation, reliable hardware, and responsive support, choosing FleetHunt ensures your fleet stays connected and protected. Whether you operate in B.C. or beyond, FleetHunt provides the technology and support needed to stay compliant and protect your drivers from false claims.

FleetHunt is more than a telematics system. It improves driver wellness by making every mile safer, less stressful, and more predictable. By combining AI dashboard cameras, Electronic Logging Devices, GPS, and asset tracking, it turns real-time data into clear insights on driving behaviour, hours of service, and vehicle health, including reminders that help fleets stay ahead of maintenance needs. Drivers stay alert, confident, and supported with fewer surprises on the road, while fleets reduce accidents, lower costs, and improve retention through earlier issue detection and clearer communication. Managers can act faster with reliable information instead of guesswork, enabling more proactive operations. In sum, telematics is more than fleet data management; it is helping your fleet’s drivers stay supported, confident, and prepared for every journey.