Seatbelt and phone-use compliance for fleets, without installing hardware
AI dash cams from Samsara, Motive and Lytx detect seatbelt violations and mobile phone use on camera, alert the driver and flag it for coaching. They need a camera in every vehicle. BuckledApp runs on the driver’s phone: it verifies the seatbelt at 20 MPH, locks distracting apps for the whole drive, and shows each driver’s last check on the fleet dashboard. It suits small fleets, delivery operations and school programs, alone or alongside telematics.
| BuckledApp | AI dash cams (Samsara, Motive, Lytx) | Mentor by eDriving | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hardware | None, driver’s phone | Camera in each vehicle | None, smartphone app |
| Seatbelt | Verified before apps unlock | Violations detected on camera | — |
| Phone use | Distracting apps locked for the drive | Detected on camera and alerted | Phone distraction detected and scored |
| Video evidence | No | Yes | No |
| Driver coaching | No | Yes | Yes, in-app micro-training |
| Covers any vehicle the driver uses | Yes | Only equipped vehicles | Yes |
| Pricing | Per driver | — | — |
Competitor features are taken from each company’s own website, checked October 2026. “—” means the feature isn’t listed there. Spotted something out of date? Email support@buckledapp.com.
What telematics does well
Dash cam platforms give you video of incidents, a wide range of AI detections (following distance, drowsiness, rolling stops), vehicle tracking and coaching workflows. For large fleets that need evidence and exoneration, they are the standard.
What BuckledApp adds
Prevention before the vehicle is at speed: the seatbelt is verified and the distracting apps are locked, instead of being recorded and coached afterwards. Because it is on the driver’s phone, it covers every vehicle, including personal cars used for work.
Setup in minutes
Give drivers one organization code. Protection turns on for everyone who joins, drivers can’t switch it off, and the dashboard shows who has finished setup, who is signed out, and each driver’s last seatbelt check.
Insurance
Many commercial insurers look favorably on documented seatbelt and distracted-driving programs. BuckledApp gives you a per-driver record of passed checks and phone-free drives. Ask your carrier what they accept.
Sources
Protect every driver from their own phone
Self-serve fleet pricing, no hardware, live in minutes.