Microlise launches AI distraction cameras for fleets

Microlise has launched AI-powered distraction cameras for commercial vehicles in Australia, aimed at fleet operators managing driver safety and compliance.

The cameras combine inward-facing driver monitoring with Advanced Driver Assistance Systems that monitor the road ahead. The system can detect signs of fatigue and distraction, including yawning, drowsiness, phone use, smoking, eating and seatbelt non-compliance, and alert drivers in real time.

The product is part of Microlise's wider multi-camera platform for fleets, which combines forward-facing, blind-spot and driver monitoring cameras. Managers can access footage across entire vehicle fleets through a central dashboard.

Operators can use a video library and playback tools to review incidents without checking each vehicle separately. The dashboard also includes a map function showing event type, duration and location linked to footage, and allows users to retrieve and download video.

The launch comes as scrutiny of heavy vehicle safety increases in Australia. Fleet managers face growing pressure to show that safety controls are operating in practice across transport supply chains, particularly around fatigue and driver distraction.

Microlise linked the launch to broader road safety concerns, citing Australian figures showing distracted driving is associated with nearly 30% of fatal accidents and 45% of serious injury crashes.

Research cited by the company also points to slower reaction times when drivers are distracted. According to Microlise, an undistracted driver typically reacts to a hazard in one second, while drivers using a handheld phone are 48% slower and those using a hands-free phone are 27% slower.

The system is powered by Streamax under a partnership with Microlise. Streamax supplies the underlying technology for the distraction camera, while Microlise integrates it into its broader transport software and camera offering.

Compliance focus

Compliance is central to the launch. In heavy transport, operators are expected to produce evidence that they are identifying and managing risks rather than relying only on documented policies. Camera footage has become one way to support that process after incidents or audits.

Microlise said the system can also help provide context after collisions, noting that drivers are solely at fault in only around 25% of incidents. Recorded footage can help establish what happened.

This may also matter for insurance and claims handling, where operators often need rapid access to video evidence. Centralised retrieval across a fleet could reduce the time needed to investigate events and prepare compliance reports.

Luke Olsen, Managing Director for APAC at Microlise, outlined the company's view of the market need.

"As Australia works towards its goal of zero deaths and injuries on our roads by 2050, initiatives to combat driver distraction are being embraced far and wide," Olsen said. "Our enhanced AI distraction cameras enable fleet managers to improve safety, reduce risk and lower insurance costs by proactively managing driver behaviour, establishing liability quickly and supporting compliance with industry standards, all from one platform."

Broader portfolio

Microlise is already active in transport technology across tracking, driver safety, performance monitoring and compliance tools. Its wider offering includes electronic work diary systems, fatigue compliance software, pre-start and fit-to-drive checks, and fleet safety management products.

The distraction camera sits within that broader suite, giving the company another route into transport operators seeking a single supplier for safety monitoring and reporting tools. For customers in sectors with heavy compliance obligations, integration between driver monitoring, vehicle cameras and reporting systems is likely to be a key selling point.

Streamax chief executive officer Bill Wang described the partnership in similar terms.

"Streamax thrives on working hand in hand with our customers, placing their success at the heart of our value. Partnering with Microlise allows us to turn AI-driven insights into tangible road safety outcomes, ensuring every journey is safer and more efficient for the world's most demanding transport operations," Wang said.