Over the past few years, the world of motoring has been quietly revolutionised by the same technological forces that have helped bring smartphone photography to the masses, and provided each of us with a means of recording our surroundings in crisp high definition.
Cameras, put simply, have become extremely small and extremely affordable. We can now attach them to the front and rear of our cars, and record every single drive. This has important implications for our behaviour on the road, and the level of safety we enjoy.
More People Are Recording
More drivers in the UK than ever before are recording themselves using a rear-view camera. This means that police forces and private lawyers have a large repository of evidence with which to deal with not only dangerous drivers but also other wanted criminals who might be at large.
Encourages Safer Driving
What’s more, everyone knows this – to the extent that it’s become common knowledge. Everyone now knows that everyone knows that they know it, and so on indefinitely.
This has big implications, since it means that drivers are increasingly driving as though they’re being recorded, because the chances are good that they actually are being recorded. If you’re driving a vehicle with a dash cam fitted, then you’ll be certain of it!
Helps in Accidents or Claims
If you’ve ever seen a YouTube video of a fraudster deliberately reversing into a motorist, realising that they’ve been recorded, and then getting back into the car and driving off, then you’ll understand another benefit of the dashboard camera: it will establish whether an accident really did occur.
Sharing Footage Safely
Recording people in public, and then sharing the footage on social media, usually requires obtaining the consent of any person whose image has been captured. Fortunately, there’s a means of sending footage directly to the police, via the Operation SNAP service.
Camera Tips
Getting the most from your dashcam means obeying a few basic principles. First, make sure that your cameras don’t block your view of the road. Second, make sure that you have enough storage space, and that the camera actually works. Your storage space might fill rapidly, especially if your footage is high-resolution.