Amazon is putting cameras in their delivery vans and some drivers are not happy

But Elizabeth’s work environment is likely to change, as Amazon announced this month that it has started installing cameras inside its delivery vehicles that monitor the road and its drivers.

Traffic safety experts say monitoring Amazon’s driver should bring safety benefits to the company and everyone with whom it shares roads. At the same time, drivers like Elizabeth are preparing for what will happen when the cameras can examine all their movements, providing feedback that can affect their livelihoods.

Amazon (AMZN) said in a recent video that he hopes the new system will give drivers “peace of mind” when delivering packages, but drivers like Elizabeth say they are nervous.

Amazon spokeswoman Deborah Bass told CNN Business that drivers could not lose their jobs for a single mistake, but declined to detail how Amazon recommends partner companies that make their deliveries handle feedback, training and discipline . Amazon said that video images from the cameras will only be sent in certain circumstances, including sudden braking, sudden acceleration and u-turns.

“Security is Amazon’s top priority,” Amazon’s Bass said in a statement. “Whether it’s state-of-the-art telemetry and advanced safety technology in last-mile vans, driver safety training programs or continuous improvements to our mapping and routing technology, we’ve invested tens of millions of dollars in security mechanisms in our network and regularly communicate best safety practices to drivers. ”

The companies that monitor commercial drivers are not new. Companies like UPS and DHL have telematic systems that track driver behavior, such as seat belt use, speed, acceleration and braking. UPS says it has relied on telematics for more than 20 years. Amazon is going further and adopting cameras consistently aimed at drivers, who rely on artificial intelligence to provide real-time feedback. Drivers will receive real-time warnings if they pass a stop sign, rear door or are distracted.

Amazon drivers say negative experiences with the company’s existing driver monitoring system contribute to their concerns.

Have drivers use an app called Mentor that punctuates the direction by tracking braking, acceleration, turns, speed and distraction. But drivers interviewed by CNN Business say the app could unfairly penalize them, as it misinterprets reasonable driving behavior. The smartphone falling to the ground or sliding into the vehicle can be interpreted as a sharp turn or a sudden braking, they say. Receiving a text message can be considered a distraction while driving, they say, even if they don’t consult the phone to read it. Mentor scores can affect driver remuneration.

The app has a rating of 1.2 out of 5 on the Apple App Store and a rating of 1.3 out of 5 on the Google Play App Store. Many reviews of the app say that it causes fear, as the score may seem unpredictable.

“This app gave me nightmares!” said a reviewer on Apple’s App Store.

Low told CNN Business that Amazon works with suppliers to continue to improve its products, but declined to comment on whether it is satisfied with the quality of the Mentor application and whether it thinks the reviews reflect the quality of the application. Amazon also declined to share data on whether its new camera monitoring system has been shown to improve security.

But “the potential is enormous,” said Matthew Camden, a researcher at the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute who studied driver monitoring systems. Camden’s research found that legacy driver monitoring systems reduced accidents by 38.1%. The addition of AI-powered skills should increase the benefits, he said, as real-time feedback can train drivers to improve. Companies that offer AI-powered driver monitoring systems have reported collision reductions of more than 50%, but independent researchers have not yet studied the systems, according to Camden.

Elizabeth said there are some positives, such as driver safety and protection. She said she had colleagues who were stolen or who had a gun on them. (Amazon says in its video that drivers can upload images in case someone approaches their vehicle.)

Juan Ramos, who delivers to Amazon in Garland, Texas, told CNN Business that he likes some of the camera’s new security features, such as tracking distractions while driving, speeding and tracking distance. Cameras can free drivers from trouble in the event of an accident, he said. But he heard from drivers who think the cameras will micromanage them and worry about having problems or losing their jobs for what appears to be a minor infraction. He said he knows of drivers who covered the cameras facing them, worried.

“To be quick, I have to do some things that I shouldn’t do,” said Fuentes, who cited the example of not often wearing a seat belt, but putting it behind you. He declined to comment on this story.

“If a driver needs to turn around or needs to back up or do something to keep deliveries and they will be scored or talked about, I feel it is not fair,” Ramos told CNN Business.

Yet, Amazon may be on the verge of a new trend.

The automated camera market is expected to triple in the next five to seven years, according to Jason Palmer, an Omnitracs executive, who offers a driver monitoring system. Amazon has a Netradyne system, which declined to comment on this story. Its competitors include Omnitracs, Lytx, Jungo and Samsara.

The biggest delivery competitors from Amazon, UPS, FedEx and DHL, all declined to say whether they considered using AI-powered driver monitoring systems. FedEx has worked with Lytx before, but declined to comment on the deal. UPS said it briefly tested a camera unit, but has not decided whether to adopt it.