A unique partnership to keep Hawaii’s roads safe and clean for everyone.
In conjunction with the University of Hawaii College of Engineering, the Hawaii Department of Transportation is making available 1000 dashcams to the public, free of charge. With your help, these cameras will record all roads that you drive normally each day, collecting imagery that the Hawaii DOT will use for maintenance and repair activities, and giving you the opportunity to report unsafe drivers directly to the authorities. By fixing issues quickly before they become large problems, and by cracking down on reckless drivers, Hawaii DOT will create a safer road network for all who use it.
About the Program
Every day, Hawaii’s roads are traveled by thousands of vehicles. With all of this traffic, problems can easily arise. Many of these issues can pose major safety concerns if not addressed quickly. The problem is there aren’t enough Hawaii DOT crews available to manually drive roads and look for problems, and there aren’t enough law enforcement officers to ensure unsafe drivers are cited.
Through this innovative new program, Hawaii residents can apply to receive a complimentary high-resolution dash camera to record the road as you drive normally each day.
These cameras are already helping other state and local agencies maintain safer roads. The imagery is uploaded automatically to the cloud, analyzed by AI and machine learning software, and Hawaii DOT is alerted to any of the following issues:
- Potholes and pavement cracking
- Damaged guardrails
- Faded road paint
- Vegetation growing into the roadway or covering signs
- Debris in the road or alongside the shoulder
- Active work zones
In addition, if your camera records an instance of reckless driving, road rage, or any other unsafe activity on the road, you can submit your video clip directly to the local authorities through an app on your cell phone, ensuring that Hawaii roads are kept safe for everyone.
Interested in Joining the Program?
There is no cost to join the Hawaii Eyes on the Road program. Follow these simple steps to get started:
- Read the Frequently Asked Questions below to fully understand how the program will work and what is expected of you
- Submit your information on the form below. You’ll be contacted if you have been approved to join the program.
- Once approved, you will receive instructions on where to pick up your free dash camera and how to install it in your vehicle
- Drive as you normally do every day. Imagery from your camera is automatically uploaded and analyzed for the DOT.
- To submit instances of reckless or dangerous driving, you can submit your video clip through the free smartphone app.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is being recorded?
The dash camera only records a front-facing view of the road through your windshield. There is no car-facing camera and no audio recording.
What about privacy?
Privacy is our number one concern. There is no audio recording on these dash cameras, and the only functioning camera is aimed outward to capture the road in front of you. All faces and license plates are automatically blurred, just as you see in Google Street View. All camera data is anonymized and aggregated so there is no way to track individual cameras and their locations.
Who can participate in this program?
The Hawaii DOT Eyes on the Road program is only open to current Hawaii residents. You will be asked for proof of residency when you pick up your dash camera.
Where do I pick up my dash camera?
Once approved, you will be directed to pick up your dash camera at one of the Hawaii DOT field offices. A list of locations can be found here.
What do I do once I receive my dash camera?
Your dash camera will come with installation instructions, as well as information on how to download the app to your phone. Once installed and connected to the app, you can drive as you normally do. The camera will passively capture footage as you drive.
Does this cost me anything?
There is no cost to receive and operate the dash camera. Costs may be incurred when submitting video footage through the app. Cell phone plans that do not include unlimited data may incur additional expenses for transferring large video files over cellular networks.
What if I don't want to participate in the program any longer?
If you do not wish to continue participating in the Eyes on the Road program, you must return your dash camera to your local Hawaii DOT field office. Office locations can be found here.
Do I own the dash camera?
If you agree to participate in the Eyes on the Road program and receive a dash camera, the camera remains the property of Hawaii DOT. You are not allowed to sell the camera or transfer ownership of the camera in any way. If you do not want the camera any more, you must return the camera to your local Hawaii DOT field office.
My camera stopped working. What do I do?
Contact your local Hawaii DOT field office to have your camera inspected and/or replaced.
What do you do with the dash camera data?
Hawaii DOT, in partnership with Blyncsy, uses crowd-sourced imagery to analyze conditions on Hawaii roads, allowing the DOT to understand the condition of all roadways and road assets such as guardrails, signs, impact attenuators, crosswalk paint and road striping. Blyncsy receives the video footage as still images, processes these images using artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms, and provides Hawaii DOT with detailed information about issues and locations that need work.
How do I submit an instance of dangerous driving?
Download the free NextBase app to your smartphone and follow the instructions to connect to your camera via Bluetooth. Once connected, video clips from the camera can be accessed from within the app. Choose the proper law enforcement agency as the recipient and select the video clip. Sending videos via cellular data connection may incur additional charges, see your cell phone provider plan for more details.
Apply to the Program
Ready to take part in the Eyes on the Road program, and help create a safer Hawaii for all? Complete the form below and we’ll be in touch with you soon.
Getting Started
Watch how to set up your new camera.
Additional Details
The Hawaii Eyes on the Road program is a collaboration between the Hawaii Department of Transportation and the University of Hawaii. Will collect anonymized dash camera footage to provide clients such as HiDOT with data and insights to help them maintain a safe road network. From potholes to guardrail damage, vegetation encroachment and paint line visibility, platform automatically analyzes dash camera imagery and identifies areas of concern. No personal identifiable information (PII) is collected; faces of people and license plates captured by the dash cameras are automatically blurred.
Camera Lost or Stolen?
Did you lose or damage your camera or was it stolen? Complete this form and we’ll be in touch to get you a replacement as quickly as possible.
