Chattanooga-based Third Eye is releasing an AI-native fleet safety camera to help drivers address risks as they happen, not just document them after the fact.

As fleets increasingly adopt video telematics and AI-powered safety technologies, the challenge has shifted from collecting data to delivering timely, actionable insights. The AI-powered safety camera includes a 360-degree visibility platform with object detection and rear automatic braking.

Part of Third Eye’s digital platform, the camera complements existing safety, video, telematics and operational technologies, providing fleet operators with a single, connected ecosystem to address their broader mobile fleet needs. The system runs its AI models directly on the device, reading road conditions, driver behaviour and vehicle activity in real time and delivering in-cab coaching the moment it spots a developing concern, so a driver has a genuine chance to correct course before it becomes an incident.

“Video has traditionally told fleets what happened after an incident,” said Pat Carroll from Third Eye. “This camera is built to step in earlier, while a driver still has time to correct behaviour or respond to a hazard on the road. It’s a real shift in how fleets, no matter their size or budget, can put this kind of protection in every vehicle without adding cost or complexity to get there.”

At the centre of that experience is driver safety assistance (DSA), an onboard coaching system that delivers immediate audible alerts through an integrated speaker and visual notifications through built-in indicator lights. DSA helps drivers recognise and address distracted driving, mobile phone use, speeding, tailgating, seatbelt violations, fatigue and other risky behaviour in real time, building safer habits before incidents occur.

Running the AI onboard (edge AI), rather than routing everything through the cloud first, means alerts reach the driver faster, and the system keeps working even where cellular coverage is limited. It also lets the camera rate incidents by severity as they happen, so fleet managers spend their review time on what actually needs attention instead of sorting through routine footage.

The safety camera extends safety capabilities with the company’s existing operational technology ecosystem. Fleets can consolidate video telematics, driver coaching, vehicle diagnostics and operational intelligence under a single vendor, reducing hardware complexity while creating a more connected view of safety, performance and fleet operations.

In addition to safety functions, the platform provides telematics and vehicle diagnostics by supporting both J1939 and OBD-II vehicle networks. This enables Third Eye to serve a wider range of fleet vehicles, including light-duty pickups and service vehicles, while capturing vehicle health and operational data through a single device. Through API integrations, fleets can also share telematics and maintenance information with other business systems, helping streamline operations and vehicle lifecycle management.

Configurable cabin privacy modes can limit recording of drivers, passengers or both, while the system continues to monitor for defined safety behaviour. That gives fleets room to balance safety goals with company policy and driver expectations in a way that fits their own operation.

“Good safety technology should feel like a partner to a driver, not a supervisor watching over their shoulder,” said Dave Young from Third Eye (3rdeyecam.com). “When you pair real-time coaching with privacy controls a fleet can actually configure, drivers are much more likely to trust the system, and that trust is what turns a camera into a real safety culture.”

The AI-native fleet safety camera is expected to be available this month. Details on configurations, platform integration and ordering will follow closer to launch.