#Japan #Tokyo #Yamato Transport #safe driving #Dashcam Technology

Yamato Transport Upgrades Dashcam Systems

Yamato Transport Co., Ltd., headquartered in Chuo-ku, Tokyo and led by President Seiichi Awa, is embarking on a significant upgrade of its dashcam technology across about 46,000 delivery vehicles starting from October 1, 2025. This initiative is a part of their ongoing commitment to enhance safety for both drivers and the public, visualize driving conditions, and ultimately improve driving skills.

Key Features of the Upgrade

1. Enhanced Driving Assistance Features
- The upgraded dashcams will detect sudden acceleration and hard braking actions, providing audio alerts to the driver. Moreover, the recorded footage will be automatically uploaded to the cloud and logged in the driving report.
- Equipped with an outward-facing camera, the system can recognize speed limits and stop signs, helping to identify incidents of speeding or failure to stop. It will also confirm safe driving through metrics like “stop location” when the driver properly obeys stop signs.
- An inward-facing camera will monitor the driver’s facial movements to detect drowsiness.
- In addition to automatic uploads triggered by specific actions, drivers will have the ability to access recorded videos by date and route for further review on their tablets.

2. Visualization of Safety Awareness and Driving Skills
- Each day's driving performance will be visualized in a radar chart on driving reports, covering five themes: compliance with stop signs, dangerous driving, driving concentration, urgency in driving, and eco-friendly driving. This will allow drivers to better understand their driving behaviors and areas for improvement.
- The system will also provide access to the average metrics over the past month, enabling comparisons to assess improvement.

3. Digital Transition of Driving Reports
- Instead of relying on paper reports, the transition to digital driving reports will allow for easier review and electronic storage via tablets, streamlining administrative tasks.

Expected Benefits

• - For Sales Drivers:

During post-shift roll calls, drivers will review their daily performance using driving reports containing both video footage and radar charts. This reflection enables them to recognize their driving tendencies and areas needing enhancement. Drivers will receive personalized coaching based on specific actions quantified by the system, coupled with visual feedback from the driving footage depicting real-time road conditions and their behavior, fostering deeper understanding and acceptance of the coaching provided.

• - For Administrators:

Previously, safety education utilized footage saved on SD cards from dashcams. With the new system, instant access to recorded driving videos via tablets will allow for more timely and effective safety training. Furthermore, digitizing driving reports will reduce administrative burdens associated with physical record-keeping and ensure compliance with regulations.

Previous Safety Initiatives

Yamato Group adheres to the corporate principle of valuing human life and ensuring safety, which underscores their philosophy of “Safety First.” Various safety measures have been implemented, including instructor-led on-the-job training, biannual safety campaigns like the “Zero Traffic Accidents Movement,” and the establishment of guidelines for preventing drinking and driving. Technological advancements in safety have also been prioritized, with vehicle safety systems being introduced since 2018, alongside enhanced safety training through the use of dashcam footage. The digitalization of daily vehicle inspections and roll calls has also been progressed through the introduction of the “Smart Roll Call” system since 2021.

For more information about Yamato’s transportation safety measures, visit Yamato Group Transportation Safety.

About Smart Roll Call

The Smart Roll Call system employs smartphones and tablets for everyday vehicle inspections and driver roll calls. To prevent impersonation during alcohol checks, the mobile camera is utilized to visually document records, reducing discrepancies and ensuring compliance. This innovation not only minimizes paperwork and environmental impact but also increases the time available for management and drivers to directly address operational concerns.