The business case for dash cams: prioritizing ROI in a precarious fiscal climate

The National League of Cities’ 40th annual “City Fiscal Conditions” report, released last November, confirms what many fleet managers already feel: municipalities are bracing for a difficult financial stretch. Based on an analysis of 213 city budgets, the report highlights a "perfect storm" of expiring federal aid, persistent inflation and cooling revenues.

The data is sobering. Cities project a nearly 2% revenue decline for fiscal year 2025 and only 45% of city finance officers feel confident in meeting their 2026 fiscal needs—a sharp drop from 64% just a year prior. When budgets tighten, "new technology" is often the first line item to be scrutinized or frozen.

However, fiscal sustainability isn't achieved solely through austerity. For public sector leaders, the challenge is identifying strategic investments that don't just cost money, but actively recover it. New research conducted by Wakefield Research for Samsara surveyed 400 U.S. leaders across public education and local, state and federal government. These leaders oversee 85,000 vehicles serving more than 100 million citizens. The findings suggest that dash cams have moved from "safety tool" to "budgetary essential."

The research indicates that dash cams deliver measurable, rapid ROI for strained public sector budgets:

Budgetary relief: 96% of agencies with dash cams reported that the investment freed up capital in their existing budgets.
Rapid cost recovery: 68% fully recovered their investment within 12 months; nearly 90% saw returns within the first six months.
Significant scale: 63% saved over $100,000 in the past year alone.
Insurance savings: 98% of agencies saw annual insurance premiums decrease.

Exoneration: the direct path to savings

The primary driver of these returns is summarized in the report’s title, The Exoneration Factor. In the public sector, a single "he-said, she-said" accident claim can result in years of litigation and massive settlements. Dash cams provide the objective truth required to exonerate drivers from false accusations of fault or property damage.

The impact of this evidence is immediate. Ninety-nine percent of public sector agencies with dash cams have used footage to exonerate drivers. For the City of Allentown, Pa., this meant an estimated $370,000 in taxpayer savings by avoiding legal fees and claim costs. As Daniel Steckel, Allentown’s former Fleet Services Bureau Manager, noted, the technology has been a "game changer" for protecting the city's bottom line.

Operational efficiency and behavioral change

Beyond legal protection, the data shows a correlation between dash cam usage and operational efficiency. Savings are often a byproduct of improved driver behavior, driven by proactive coaching rather than reactive discipline.

The results are most pronounced in agencies that prioritize this: 54% of those reporting ROI in under three months actively use footage for coaching. In Denver, Colo., the deployment of Samsara AI Dash Cams—which provide real-time alerts for drowsiness or distraction—led to a 94% drop in overall safety incidents and a 99% decrease in harsh driving. When drivers are safer, maintenance costs drop and vehicles stay on the road longer.

Addressing the barriers to adoption

Despite the data, roughly half of public-sector agencies have yet to adopt dash-cam technology. The primary hurdles remain budget constraints—ironic, given the ROI—and concerns about driver privacy.

The Wakefield research suggests these concerns may be overblown. Only 6% of agencies experienced significant public backlash, while 73% of the public either supports or expects the use of this technology for accountability. To navigate these hurdles, the report recommends:

Reframing the budget conversation: Focus on the 68% of agencies that reach break-even within a year and explore available grants and federal subsidies.
Formalizing privacy: Establish clear, written policies that define how footage is stored and who can access it.
Focusing on driver protection: Shift the narrative from "surveillance" to "protection," emphasizing that the camera is the driver's best witness against false claims.

Tight budgets are a reality for the foreseeable future. However, by investing in technology that offers a clear path to cost recovery, city leaders can protect both their drivers and their taxpayers.

Download the full report: How dash cams reduce risk and deliver clear ROI for the public sector