One in four drivers want compulsory dashcams

A quarter (25%) of drivers would like to see dashcams made compulsory in cars, new research from GoCompare Car Insurance suggests. 

One in three (32%) said that dashcams should be fitted automatically in all new cars in future.

Nearly half (48%) of those taking part in the survey said they would be happy to have a dashcam installed in their car, a minority (8%) said they wouldn’t have one. 

The main reason given by those who wouldn’t use a dashcam is that they would feel like they were being watched by ‘Big Brother’ insurers (44%) and that the camera would be an invasion of their privacy (39%).

Other concerns voiced included the potential distraction of a video camera while they are driving (30%); nearly a fifth (18%) thought using a dashcam was too much hassle; while 7% were worried the camera would evidence their bad driving.   

Matt Oliver, from GoCompare Car Insurance, said: “Dashboard cameras give a driver’s eye view of the road ahead, the footage they record can be valuable to insurers, police and the courts as evidence following an accident. 

“Unlike telematics policies, insurers don’t use dash cams to monitor overall driving performance but, footage captured showing how a crash occurred could be useful evidence following an accident. 

“Clear evidence from a dashcam can benefit both the insurer and the policyholder by helping to speed-up claims and deliver a fair outcome.” 

For example, by making it possible to determine the ‘at fault’ driver in an accident, camera footage may help to reduce the number of knock-for-knock settlements whereby each insurer pays its own policyholders regardless of liability.