This goes doubly for those in the taxi industry. If someone else who has use of your car is unaware they are being recorded, that is a serious breach of privacy. This is because most dash cams record sound, while others even video record the inside of the vehicle. If you share your car as a part of a company scheme, for example, you must inform those you share it with of the dash cam's installation. If your vehicle is not solely for personal use you must inform others Your footage can only be used as evidence if it shows up details such as number plates. Police have also begun using dash cam footage to help in pleas for witnesses. You'll often see dash cam footage on local news websites as communities use it to work on tracking down law-breakers. In 2017, dash cam footage helped in the cases of a Humberside hit-and-run, a Yorkshire dangerous driver, a West Yorkshire road rage attack, a Surrey roadside scam and a West Midlands carjacking - and these are just the ones we know of.

The dangerous driver wasn't caught red-handed by police, but instead was only arrested after police were shown dash cam footage from a concerned citizen. The first UK jail sentence handed out off the back of incriminating dash cam footage was in 2015. Dash cams can provide valuable information in a court case that would otherwise have been left to testimony and conjecture. Can dash cam footage be used in court?Ībsolutely. To make sure you stay on the right side of the law, see how to properly install a dash cam. The Highway Code states that any obstructions cannot be more than 40mm into the area swept by the windscreen wiper blades. This includes placing smartphones, dash cams or other items in an appropriate position, so they do not restrict their vision.’ If the police decide it's positioned unsafely, you could be fined and footage recorded on it could be rendered inadmissible in court.Ī spokesperson for the Department for Transport (DfT) told us: ‘Drivers must ensure they have a clear view of the road and traffic ahead at all times. It's extremely important that your dash cam cannot in any way be deemed to be obstructing your field of vision while driving. You may be breaking the law if you install your dash cam incorrectly

Simply plug in your dash cam and that's it. You don't need any special permission to use them. We reveal what you need to know about owning and using a dash cam.ĭash cams are talked about in the newspapers, insurers mention them in their T&Cs, and they're even popping up in UK court cases.īut where do dash cams really stand in the eyes of the law? Read on to find out all you need to know.Īlready made up your mind to buy one? Jump straight to a shortlist of the best dash cams recommended by Which? experts.

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