SURE Solution’s vehicle CCTV systems are a trusted presence on thousands of buses and coaches across the UK. Our dedicated team of engineers work tirelessly through the night to ensure your vehicles remain road-ready during operational hours. Our bus CCTV equipment is relied upon by some of the UK’s premier operators, including industry leaders like ‘The Go-Ahead Group,’ one of our major clients and the largest operator in London.
Now you know what we do. Let’s talk about what we know… bus CCTV.
Bus CCTV Equipment
Our systems consistently prove their value, with footage regularly used by insurance companies, law enforcement and even in court prosecutions. These CCTV installations are designed to protect your business, passengers and drivers alike. We create custom bus schematics tailored to each company’s needs. However, many installations follow a similar pattern, so we’ve provided a schematic of a double-decker bus below to illustrate camera placements, equipment locations and the general requirements.
Digital Video Recorders for Bus and Coach
Timespace Analogue Recorders
When installing CCTV systems on buses, coaches or larger vehicles, we frequently recommend the industry-leading Timespace products. A popular choice is the DVRV400 recorder, which supports up to 16 channels of standard analogue recording, one channel of 1080p HD IP recording, and offers up to 4TB of hard-drive storage.
The DVRV400 utilises H.264 compression technology to significantly reduce file sizes while preserving video quality. Timespace products are fully compatible with LANLink and PCLink, making footage review straightforward. Additionally, this recorder is e-marked, ensuring it meets all necessary vehicle compliance standards.
HikVision IP Cameras
HikVision IP cameras are a crucial component of any bus or coach surveillance setup. These high-definition cameras are strategically placed in areas where capturing the clearest footage is essential. They can be connected directly to the DVRV400 via its LAN port or through a router LAN connection to the digital video recorder.
The DS-2XM6726FWD-I model, in particular, features IP67 weatherproofing and wide dynamic range (WDR) technology. This WDR capability ensures clear footage even in challenging lighting conditions, where parts of the image might be extremely bright while others are too dark to discern details. The camera’s software balances these lighting variations to produce a single, clear image.
Monitors for Bus and Coach
Driver’s Monitors Vigilant Vision
A driver’s monitor is a compact display typically installed in the driver’s cab of a bus or coach, often mounted overhead. These monitors enable drivers to keep an eye on the passenger entrance and exit doors, ensuring the safety of everyone boarding or leaving the vehicle.
In addition to this, the driver monitor also functions like the reverse camera systems found in modern cars. When the vehicle is put into reverse, the monitor displays live footage from the rear camera, helping the driver navigate safely around obstacles.
SURE Transport frequently supplies the 5″ Vigilant Vision monitor, a popular choice in the vehicle industry due to its e-mark certification, remote operation and compact design.
Passenger Monitors Vigilant Vision
Passenger monitors in double-decker buses are typically placed at the bottom of the stairs, displaying a continuous stream of footage captured by the onboard CCTV cameras. These monitors serve to remind passengers that CCTV is active on the vehicle, offering reassurance to riders while also acting as a deterrent to criminal behaviour.
A popular choice for these passenger monitors is the 15″ Vigilant Vision, which comes in a durable metal casing and features XGA (1024×768) resolution.
4G Data and Wi-Fi for Bus and Coach
Router for 4G Data and Wi-Fi
Teltonika routers are essential for supplying 4G data and Wi-Fi to the digital video recorder via a SIM card. This connectivity is crucial for using Timespace or SURE applications to view live footage and track the vehicle’s location in real-time. The router also powers IP cameras and other PoE (Power over Ethernet) devices, offering four additional LAN ports for connections.
Typically, the router is installed alongside the digital video recorder in a secure lockbox beneath passenger seating, allowing engineers easy access for maintenance or equipment replacement.
Where Will My Cameras Face?
When planning a bus CCTV system, it’s crucial to determine what you need to capture and how many cameras are necessary to cover all key areas. The schematic labelled “Bus Schematic CCTV Placement” illustrates the standard CCTV setup for a Transport for London double-decker bus by SURE Solutions.
This double-decker is equipped with 17 strategically placed cameras to minimise blind spots. Typically, five cameras are mounted outside the vehicle: one facing forward, two at the rear and one on each side to monitor passing vehicles and pedestrians.
The schematic also details the locations of key components: the review socket above the driver in the cab header, the digital video recorder and router above the stairwell, the driver’s monitor in the overhead area of the cab and the passenger monitor at the bottom of the stairs.
Bus Schematic CCTV Placement
Bus CCTV Schematic Key
Bus CCTV Statistics
When it comes to safeguarding your bus, using industry-recommended equipment is essential. Depending on the size of the bus or coach, you’ll need between 5 and 24 CCTV cameras for comprehensive coverage.
With 3.4 billion bus journeys taking place each year in England alone, CCTV is crucial for protecting drivers, passengers, and bus companies. These cameras are not only a deterrent but also provide vital evidence if needed in legal proceedings.
In the most recent statistics, total vehicle miles reached 1 billion, with 96% of the vehicles equipped with CCTV systems. The study, which included over 30,000 buses, found that 98% were using automatic vehicle location technology.
Monitoring these statistics allows you to assess whether your vehicle’s equipment aligns with the standards used by Tier 1 and Tier 2 operators. This comparison ensures that your fleet meets industry benchmarks.
The full report, which includes a wider range of statistics on bus fleets in England, is available online. We’ve focused on the CCTV aspect, but you can access the full document here for more detailed information.
Bus CCTV FAQs
Is Bus CCTV Necessary?
Fleet operators often wonder whether CCTV is a legal requirement when outfitting their vehicles. The short answer is technically no. In the United Kingdom, it’s not legally mandated. However, we strongly recommend installing CCTV across your fleet, as it can be invaluable if you ever face a legal dispute.
It’s important to note that when installing CCTV, you must comply with GDPR regulations. This means ensuring that all footage is stored securely to protect individuals’ privacy and prevent unauthorised public access to personal details.
What do I Need to Consider Regarding Placement?
The first step is to carefully consider the placement and positioning of your cameras. Think about what areas you need to capture and where you want the wiring to go, especially if your DVR is hardwired to the cameras.
Should I Choose Wired or Wireless Cameras?
We recommend using wired cameras over wireless ones due to the numerous issues that can arise with wireless systems, such as signal loss, weather interference, and reduced image quality. For longer vehicles, especially vans, wireless front-facing cameras may struggle to transmit data effectively to DVRs located at the rear.
Additionally, wireless cameras often provide lower resolution images and are more susceptible to weather-related visual distortions—an important consideration if you’re operating in the UK’s unpredictable climate.
Benefits of Installing Our CCTV Onto Your Vehicle
- Enhance Passenger, Driver, and Operator Safety
- Lower Insurance Costs
- Comply with Safety Standards
- Secure Access to Encrypted Video for Police and Insurers
- Live Video Streaming and Playback
- Real-Time GPS Tracking
- UK-Based Engineers for Installations and Retrofits
Maintaining well-functioning vehicles is crucial for passenger safety, but installing CCTV systems provides an added layer of protection for passengers, drivers, and other road users. These systems not only help reduce insurance costs but also ensure compliance with safety requirements.
We offer secure, encrypted access to authorized parties, allowing for quick video evidence downloads from the cloud or instant playback without the need for downloading.
For more information, get in touch with our friendly team on 01949 836 990 or email sales@suresolutions.co.uk.
