Use of dash cams doubles

UK motorists’ use of dash cams has more than doubled in the last year, according to research carried out by the RAC.

The research, conducted as the RAC adds three brand new dash cams to its range, suggests the popular recording device is the latest must-have in-car gadget as more than half (52%) of motorists are currently considering purchasing one, placing it at the top of this year’s Christmas car tech wish-list.

Also topping this year’s wanted list are parking sensor kits (42%), hands-free phone kits (25%) and sat navs (20%) which all pay a role in assisting those behind the wheel.

What’s more, results show almost a quarter (24%) of motorists think having a dash cam installed would improve their driving. In addition, one in five (20%) of those surveyed have previously been involved in an accident where there was a dispute over who was at fault, 69% of whom believe a dash cam would have helped them solve their case.

And, with Insurance Premium Tax (IPT) set to rise to from 6% to 9.5% on 1 November, the results indicate that 63% think insurance companies should encourage the use of dash cams, especially if it guarantees a reduction to the cost of their policy – an incentive the RAC has introduced.

RAC head of retail Lynn Hayzelden said: “We have seen a surge in the number of dash cams purchased from racshop.co.uk in 2015 and, as the results suggest, this is a trend that shows no sign of slowing down.

“Not only do dash cams encourage safer driving and provide excellent protection against insurance fraud, they can also now save you money on your car insurance.”

The RAC Shop survey also shows that men are three times more likely to own a dash cam (13%) than women (4%). And, findings indicate that older drivers appear to be the most tech savvy, as the majority (22%) of motorists that already own a dash cam are aged 50 and over, followed by those aged 35-39 (6%).