Cappagh Browne Slashed Dangerous Driving by 95% with Samsara AI Dash Cams
In a sector where road safety, operational visibility, and environmental responsibility are paramount, Cappagh Browne has pulled off a remarkable feat.
The wastewater services provider, working on behalf of Southern Water to serve more than 1.5 million customers, has managed to cut dangerous driving behaviours by a jaw-dropping 95% in just one week. How? The answer lies in a powerful fusion of technology, insight, and strategic training delivered through Samsara’s Connected Operations Platform.
This isn’t your typical fleet upgrade. It marks a step change in how modern utilities manage risk, coach drivers, and build a culture of accountability on the road. And with real-time data now at their fingertips, Cappagh Browne is proving that safety and efficiency can go hand-in-hand.
From blind spots to breakthroughs
Before Samsara entered the picture, Cappagh Browne faced the same challenges dogging many in the utility and infrastructure space: patchy compliance, limited fleet visibility, and mounting pressures to reduce risk. The tools at their disposal were clunky at best. Manual processes and outdated tracking systems left supervisors in the dark about how vehicles were being operated on the road.
That lack of oversight wasn’t just a compliance headache. It meant dangerous behaviours like harsh braking, distracted driving, and speeding often slipped through the cracks. With lives, assets, and reputations on the line, the team knew something had to give.
Visibility is everything
Enter Samsara. With its AI Dash Cams and GPS-enabled Vehicle Gateway, Cappagh Browne could finally see what was happening behind the wheel. The system captured detailed behavioural insights across a fleet of over 250 vehicles carrying out 65,000 jobs a year. From mobile phone usage and seatbelt compliance to inattentiveness and idling, every key risk factor was monitored and flagged in real time.
What happened next was nothing short of transformative. With the data in hand, Cappagh Browne’s safety team launched a wave of targeted coaching. Within a single week, dangerous driving behaviours plummeted by 95%. The tech didn’t just monitor drivers; it educated them, empowered them, and helped them change course.
“It’s all about awareness. Once drivers understood the risks, they were motivated to self-correct unsafe habits themselves,” said Matthew Reid, Head of Plant & Transport at Cappagh Browne. “Educating drivers on best practice around vehicle idling as well is paying dividends.”
Tangible results that hit the bottom line
The impact wasn’t just felt on the roads. Over the first year of implementation, Cappagh Browne saw:
- An 88% drop in at-fault accident claims, slashing insurance costs and minimising vehicle downtime.
- A 10% reduction in fuel spend, driven by improved route planning and driver coaching.
- A 17% decrease in speeding incidents, improving safety and compliance.
- Vehicle inspection completion rates jumped from 80% to 93%, with time per inspection halved.
- Annual cost savings of over £100,000.
These aren’t abstract figures. For a utility services firm operating on tight margins and under growing regulatory scrutiny, they represent game-changing efficiencies and measurable return on investment.
A smarter, safer training culture
One of the more novel aspects of Cappagh Browne’s strategy was its use of Samsara’s AI-generated footage in training programmes. Real-world examples of unsafe driving are now reviewed in team briefings, creating teachable moments that hit closer to home than generic road safety videos ever could.
In tandem, the firm has introduced safety stand-downs—brief, focused sessions where teams pause operations to reflect on safety performance and refresh best practices. By rooting training in actual fleet data, the company has built a more resilient safety culture that resonates from the top brass to the boots on the ground.
Fuel efficiency through behavioural change
Fuel consumption often flies under the radar when discussing fleet performance. Yet with fluctuating energy prices and environmental targets, it’s a metric worth watching closely. Cappagh Browne’s decision to track and reduce idling through Samsara’s platform paid off handsomely.
Idling reports now form a regular part of driver reviews, helping staff understand the direct link between habits behind the wheel and fuel costs. Even small changes have compounded into significant savings—with the added bonus of lowering carbon emissions and improving environmental performance.
Setting a new benchmark for utilities
Cappagh Browne’s success hasn’t gone unnoticed. Philip van der Wilt, SVP and GM EMEA at Samsara, summed it up: “Cappagh Browne’s results show how connected operations can make a real difference to safety and efficiency in the utilities sector. With better visibility and data to guide decisions, they’ve built a stronger foundation for smarter, safer, and more sustainable operations.”
But the firm isn’t resting on its laurels. It’s already looking to scale its use of Samsara technology across new operational areas. Plans are in motion to streamline compliance monitoring and strengthen incident response throughout its wastewater network.
And as infrastructure providers everywhere feel the squeeze of regulatory reform, climate commitments, and public expectations, Cappagh Browne’s model could prove to be a guiding light.
Building momentum for connected fleets
What’s clear is that Cappagh Browne’s journey is less about gadgets and more about mindset. By embracing data and empowering people with insight, they’ve created a roadmap for transformation.
The lesson for other firms? Don’t wait for a wake-up call. Fleet safety, efficiency, and sustainability aren’t opposing goals. With the right tech and a bit of grit, they can drive each other forward.
