New Samsara Research Shows Dash Cams Deliver Rapid, Measurable ROI for U.S. Public Sector Agencies
Independent survey of 400 public sector leaders finds agencies recover costs within months while cutting insurance premiums, litigation exposure, and administrative burden
Samsara Inc. ("Samsara") (NYSE:IOT), the pioneer of the Connected Operations® Platform, today released new research showing that dash cams deliver a rapid, measurable return on investment for U.S. public sector agencies—helping organizations reduce claims and insurance costs, accelerate investigations, and free up budget for critical public services.
The report, State of Connected Operations: How Dash Cams Reduce Risk and Deliver Clear ROI for the U.S. Public Sector, analyzes survey data from 400 federal, state, local, and education leaders managing more than 85,000 vehicles and serving over 100 million citizens.
Across agencies, the data show that financial returns are driven by faster cost recovery, fewer claims, and lower ongoing operating costs—resulting in measurable ROI within months, not years.
Dash Cams Pay for Themselves—Fast
Public sector leaders report that dash cam investments generate financial returns far faster than typical infrastructure or technology upgrades:
- 89% of agencies see ROI within six months
- 61% begin seeing returns within just three months
- 68% fully recover their initial investment within 12 months
- 93% of agencies that achieved ROI within six months went on to save more than $100,000
These savings are driven by reduced claims, lower insurance premiums, faster investigations, and avoided litigation costs.
"Samsara AI Dash Cams have been invaluable. In crashes, the footage has exonerated both the city and our drivers," says Kaitlynn Burress, Workforce Services Analyst, Benefits & Risk, City of Carrollton. "We also use the video to reassure our drivers by showing them, ‘you did everything right,' which has been a powerful way to support them."
Exoneration Drives Immediate Budget Relief
Dash cam footage has become a primary financial safeguard for agencies facing rising insurance costs and legal exposure:
- 91% have used dash cam footage to exonerate a driver in the past year
- 99% of agencies with dash cams report using footage for exoneration
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96% say dash cams have reduced costs, freeing up money in their agency's budget
- A majority saved $100,000 or more annually through reduced claims and legal costs
- Federal agencies report the highest frequency of repeat exonerations over a 12-month period
In one documented case, dash cam footage saved a single city an estimated $370,000 in avoided legal fees, claim costs, and employee time following a not-at-fault incident.
"Once drivers saw how Samsara AI Dash Cams could lead to exonerations, there was zero pushback," says Dave Persad, Director of Fleet Management and Mobility, City of Boynton Beach. "It was no longer ‘your word against mine'—we could get immediate access to video that would prove they weren't at fault for an incident."
Insurance Premiums Drop—Despite a Rising Market
Even as insurance premiums rise nationally, agencies using dash cams are seeing consistent reductions:
- 98% report a decrease in annual insurance premiums
- Up to 64% saved $10,000 or more annually on insurance alone
- Savings were reported across federal, state, local, and education sectors
These reductions are closely linked to improved driver behavior and fewer preventable incidents.
"Samsara has helped us reduce preventable vehicle collisions by 20%. It's also helped us deconflict resources, which allows us to get power back on more quickly. All of that has enabled us to keep rates low," says Doug McGowen, President and CEO, Memphis Light, Gas and Water.
Operational Efficiency Converts Time Into Dollars
Beyond direct financial savings, agencies report meaningful reductions in administrative workload and response times:
- 54% save up to a week or more per incident by accelerating investigations
- 57% use footage for driver coaching or training
- 53% use footage to resolve insurance claims
- 47% use footage to respond to citizen complaints
Agencies report that investigations that once took weeks are now resolved in days, freeing staff time for higher-value public service work.
Wider Deployment Delivers Higher Returns
The data shows that agencies deploying dash cams across at least half their fleet achieve materially better outcomes:
- 68% of high-deployment agencies save $100,000+, compared to 54% of limited deployments
- More frequent driver exonerations
- Faster identification of infrastructure hazards
- Greater reductions in theft, vandalism, and vehicle misuse
The Cost of Inaction Is Now Higher Than Adoption
While 51% of public sector respondents say their agencies have not yet deployed dash cams, the report finds that concerns around cost, privacy, and pushback are often overstated:
- Only 6% report strong public backlash
- 73% say the public expects or supports dash cam use
- 98% agree dash cams improve employee safety
Agencies that delay adoption continue to absorb avoidable costs from false claims, high insurance premiums, and prolonged investigations.
"The presence of AI Dash Cams shows the transportation department's commitment to safety and transparency for its students, drivers, parents, and community," said Charley Humble, Executive Director of Transportation, Gwinnett County Public Schools.
A Proven Investment With Measurable Public Returns
The findings are clear: dash cams are no longer an emerging technology for the public sector—they are a proven financial and operational safeguard. Agencies that deploy dash cams are recovering costs within months, reducing insurance exposure, cutting investigation time, and protecting employees and taxpayers alike.
As insurance premiums rise, litigation risk grows, and public expectations for transparency increase, agencies without dash cams face mounting financial and reputational costs. The data shows that the question is no longer whether dash cams deliver ROI, but how much longer agencies can afford to operate without them.
"For public sector agencies, ROI isn't an abstract metric—it's measured in taxpayer dollars protected, staff time recovered, and frontline employees supported," says Sean McCann, AVP of Public Sector at Samsara. "What this research makes clear is that dash cams are no longer a ‘nice to have'; they are now a foundational risk-management tool that helps agencies resolve incidents faster, reduce insurance exposure, and operate with greater transparency. In today's environment of rising claims costs and public scrutiny, the cost of not having this visibility is simply too high."
To learn more and download the report, visit https://www.samsara.com/resources/public-sector-dash-cam-roi-report
About the Research
The study was conducted by Wakefield Research between September 23 and October 6, 2025, surveying 400 U.S. public sector decision-makers across federal, state, local, and education organizations with fleets of 100 or more vehicles.
About Samsara
Samsara (NYSE:IOT) is the pioneer of the Connected Operations® Platform, which is an open platform that connects the people, devices, and systems of some of the world's most complex operations, allowing them to develop actionable insights and improve their operations. With tens of thousands of customers across North America and Europe, Samsara is a proud technology partner to the people who keep our global economy running, including the world's leading organizations across industries in transportation, construction, wholesale and retail trade, field services, logistics, manufacturing, utilities and energy, government, healthcare and education, food and beverage, and others. The company's mission is to increase the safety, efficiency, and sustainability of the operations that power the global economy.
Samsara is a registered trademark of Samsara Inc. All other brand names, product names, or trademarks belong to their respective holders.
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