Do you own a dash cam?

Thanks for the additional detail Phil. Very depressing to think an idiot would escape custodial sentencing.

Whilst the idea of alarming people so they install cameras has a track record in houses is this an element of playing into manufacturers hands ? Whilst we can see thousands on YouTube the actually instances of where it has been useful in the UK divided by the number of cars on the road and the time spent recording might reveal it is of marginal value given its life span is probably short years.

Bearing in mind the thousand of hours and effort s people go to faking “real” events for TV programmes the idea surely is some crook equally creative is planning to have the cam as part of the scam.

I think as my experience and that of the two examples in the article show it only needs one incident to justify the cost.

Maybe, just maybe, as dashcams become more common it might improve the standard of driving and lower the casualty rate if the nutjobs know they’re being watched.

How lucky. I hit a drainage cover where the foundation was lose and damaged the underneath of my car (In Luton) both the Highway Maint & Luton Council informed with dash cam video plus sound (like thunder). The accident happened at 18:30. Informed via phone and e-mail and in the morning when I went past the site it had been repaired (10:30ish). They never got back to me, I e mailed three times both departments. Phoned twice and they claimed the camera was not informative enough to make a claim.

That’s outrageous. Did they say how what information they would need?

I share your concerns Wavechange, but I hesitate to suggest legislation at the moment, although it could become necessary.

We have become a voyeuristic society enjoying the capability of sharing funny. scary or horrific images without discrimination between the sensitivities involved. Whole TV programmes are based on this sort of video imagery ricocheting around the internet , basically for sensational excitement. One clip leads to another, most of them dire or trivial beyond belief – but they are captivating, and fuel the desire to capture and upload identifiable pictures of people or their vehicles at moments of distress or shock. Even offenders have rights against false incrimination. I think we need to be very careful.

I do support the case for having dashcams for private evidence recording in the event of a police investigation or for an insurance claim. It’s how we set the boundaries for this that needs a lot more consideration.

Dashcams are really no different from any other type of camera and should not be subject to any greater restrictions. We all have the right to photograph or film anything and anybody in a public place (despite what some uniformed thugs might tell you) and I think we’d be heading off on a dangerous path if that were to change.

I am thinking more of encouraging self-restraint in publishing videos rather than introducing legislation, Phil. Taking photos and videos is generally conspicuous whereas using a dash cam is not.

Yes, we do have the right to take pictures of anything and anybody in a public place, Phil, but we don’t have the right to publish pictures of people if it would infringe any of their rights as citizens. It’s the publication of images that I feel needs attention and a careful approach that upholds rights on both sides.