A survey of drivers found an overwhelming majority of those who own dash cams believe the recording devices should come fitted as standard.
Some 91 percent of those questioned by Go Compare believed that cameras should be fitted to new cars from the factory.
At present, only 18 percent of UK drivers have a dash cam, with 12 percent having used video footage as part of an insurance claim.
However, dash cam usage looks set to increase, as it becomes an important part of investigations by insurance companies and the police.
An extra layer of protection
Despite the currently low levels of dash cam usage, 82 percent of those without one would change their mind if it reduced their insurance costs.
Ryan Fulthorpe, motoring expert at Go Compare, said: “Dash cams provide brilliant security for drivers, who know that if an incident occurs while they’re on the road, they’ll have evidence of what happened and won’t be blamed if it’s not their fault.
“The footage is particularly helpful in settling insurance claims, making them popular with many providers.”
Ever more drivers are also submitting dash cam evidence to the police, with a 185 percent increase during the last three years.
A joined-up approach to dash cams
The National Dash Cam Safety Portal (NDSP) allows a simplified way to upload clips of poor driving and car crime. It has seen 55,000 incidents of dangerous driving alone reported since 2020.
Certain police forces have seen substantial increases in dash cam footage being shared. Northumbria Police received 14,000 submissions in the past three years, with West Midlands Police being sent 12,500 items of footage.
Bryn Brooker of dash cam manufacturer Nextbase said: “The dash cam has been the fastest growing consumer technology category over the past three years. In the earlier days, they were mostly bought by men aged 40+, but they benefit all drivers and we are seeing more women and younger drivers realising the benefits of having one.”
In relation to the rise in dash cam submissions to the police, Brooker notes: “The increase in submissions stems from a number of factors, the main ones being increased dash cam usage, as well as more police forces joining up to accept dash cam footage from the National Dash Cam Safety Portal.”
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