Do you think in-car cameras should be compulsory?
Motorists call for action to cut bogus car insurance claims
One in four motorists (26%) think the UK should take the lead in the fight against so-called ‘crash for cash’ scams by making in-car cameras compulsory.
The RAC, which carried out the research, says the vast majority of drivers (71%) believe introducing in-car accident cameras would help to cut bogus car insurance claims from staged car crashes, which has become a billion pound industry for unscrupulous car criminals.
The increase in so-called ‘crash for cash’ scams has prompted motorists to take action themselves as the motoring organisation found nearly two in five (39%) drivers said they are considering fitting an in-car camera.
Latest figures suggest that four per cent of drivers already have an in-car camera, and the majority (59%) said the main reason they bought one is to have a record of what happens in case of an accident. A fifth (21%) specifically cited protection against ‘crash for cash’ scams as the reason they had a camera.
The Association of British Insurers (ABI) estimates bogus claims rose by 34% last year to 59,900 cases and has also dubbed the UK the ‘whiplash capital of the world’, with the £2bn in claims adding £90 a year on to the average motorist’s premium.
RAC head of external affairs Pete Williams said: “Accident cameras or in-car cameras are commonplace in some countries where unscrupulous driving practices are a more regular occurrence. With ‘crash for cash’ crimes unfortunately becoming more prevalent on UK roads, motorists are looking to in-car cameras to protect themselves from being taken advantage of.”
Fortunately, only a small number (3%) of those surveyed had fallen foul of an insurance scam to date. However, of those that had, 73% were victims of a ‘crash for cash’ incident.
Pete Williams said: “As long as they are used correctly, dashboard cameras are a valuable record of the circumstances that occurred around an accident and as such can help to reduce the cost of personal injury claims which, in turn, should ultimately reduce the cost of insurance.”
As well as making road users feel safer, almost three quarters (72%) of those surveyed would consider installing a dashboard camera if it meant they could pay lower insurance premiums. Seventy per cent also felt that an increased use of cameras among UK drivers would help cut the number of bogus insurance claims made.
Do you have an in-car camera in your car? What were the reasons for you fitting one? Let us know in the comments below.
Peter Millar
( Thursday, October 23, 2014 - 18:25 )
i cmae up behind a BMW at Redbridge roundabout Southampton, the road to the left of the roundabout was totaly clear, so she pulled away,and ilooked to my left to check and pulled away, but she slammed on her brakes, i also put my brakes on, but still bimped into the back of her car,there was no damage to her car or my van,(and my van has a fibreglass spioler kit on it) so if i had hit her hard it would have broke into bits as they are not very strong, we both exchanged names and address, and went on our way, but all the next day she kept on phoning me to say that her and her daughter that was in the car had to go to hospital for whip lash and back pains, i phoned my insurance company and told them that they were trying it on, but when i got my insurance quote to renew it, there was a claim that they paid out for the accident for £32000.00 which was stupid as i had took the time to tell them she was a fraud!! so since then i have had a camera fitted to the car for day or night use, so i am ready for them next time
Ian 40k miles
( Thursday, October 23, 2014 - 12:58 )
I have had one fitted to the front screen for about 12 months now. I am also considering one for the rear screen as well. Luckily i have not had the need to use the evidence recorded on there for my own use, but i did witness and so did my camera a van driver who was so upset at a lorry driver that he pulled up next to it to remonstrate and then after they both moved off, cut in front of the lorry causing a minor bump. I took the lorry details and sent the 32 second video off to the companies transport manager who was very pleased. I think that the use of cameras is good but it might get a little bit like tghe old sat nav, in that it will be seen as a quick smash and grab for the local tea leaf. Perhaps manufacturers can offer such a simple system that is already availble on alot of cars, i.e. reverse camears that actually continuously record the view, as well as fitting one in at the front?