Thefts

THEFTS:

It seems to be a common view from our recent newsletter that the Industry is becoming a victim of its own success in as much as the demand for vehicles over the last two years has grown. This coupled with the delay of new vehicles coming through has made the vehicle so much more desirable with theft of vehicles up by 500%. By working alongside our Partners, Aviva, we can say that of all our claims, 99.8% have been paid. We can only advise people that any physical or electronical devices fitted to their vehicles can help deter potential thefts, especially in the Winter period when most vehicles go into storage. We previously did blog on security with our helpful tips.

Are Dashcams a worthwhile investment or just an unnecessary windscreen ornament?

We strongly endorse dashcams with the pros and cons being:

Pros:

• Personal safety (58.7%) – Employees of companies like Uber are legally allowed to record inside their vehicle for their own safety. Similarly some school buses and public transport vehicles also have interior dashcams to promote safety for both their driver and passengers.
• Insurance purposes (53.8%) – ‘Crash for cash’ cases are more common in the recent years. This will usually be a driver breaking suddenly on purpose in front of you so you crash into the back of them and then they claim against you. With dashcam footage it is easier to prove that they have stopped to cause an accident and you are the victim. Without a dashcam in these situations it is extremely hard to prove you are not at fault. Most authorities in the UK now accept dash cam footage as evidence. When settling motor insurance disputes it isn’t always possible to prove who is at fault, when this happens claims will often be settled on a 50/50 basis which is more likely to affect your insurance premium compared to if it was a non-fault claim. Some dashcams can now auto lock footage when it detects an accident has happened to ensure the footage is not lost.
• Safety of vehicle when unattended (37.8%) – You can get dashcams that are censored so if someone is trying to break into your vehicle or damages your vehicle when you are not around the dashcam will turn on and record what has happened. Having a dashcam can deter a criminal if they wanted to attempt a theft.
• To capture unexpected events (12%)
• Out of interest (12%) – With some companies having a dashcam fitted will in fact reduce your yearly insurance premium. With dashcams becoming more common, fewer insurance companies offer specific discounts for having one installed but there are some out there that will. If you compare a car insurance quote on Confused.com they will ask if you have a dashcam fitted and will provide you quotes based on this.

Cons:

• Can encourage theft – Dashcams can be one of the most desirable car accessories and can be relatively easy to steal as most are detachable. High end dashcams can be quite costly which, in turn, can attract criminals who can break in to steal the dashcam and sell it on.
• Recording inside your vehicle – If you drive a commercial vehicle and your occupants aren’t aware they are being recorded, you could be violating someone’s privacy. Some dashcams capture sound as well as footage, so if your dashcam is recording a private conversion this can be a serious breach of privacy for which you could be sued.
• Can be expensive – If you want a high end dashcam with good quality and features they can work out quite costly. Although a cheaper one might be a deterrent it might not do a good enough job. The video quality might not be useful enough in the event of a claim. If your vehicle is involved in a hit and run accident, you will be relying on your dashcam footage to get the vehicle registration but if it’s low quality it might not be clear enough to make out.
• Distraction – Dashcams can be a distraction while driving as they are placed on your front window. They can obstruct your view of the road as some can be quite bulky and in the way.
• Can incriminate you – Even if you believe you’re not in the wrong a dashcam can prove otherwise. They are very one sided and it just shows the accident from one point of view, it might not pick up other hazards at the time of driving.

With more and more people using dashcams each year they are reducing accidents on the roads. Apparently, drivers using dashcams are proven to be 33% safer behind the wheel, this could be because they know they are being recorded so they are less likely to perform risky manoeuvres or drive in a manner that would put themselves and other road users at risk.

Nextbase has launched the National Dash Cam Safety Portal (NDCSP), this is a place for members of the public to upload dashcam footage of dangerous drivers, to report serious road incidents and securely upload video footage to the right police force.

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