The Benefits of Owning a Dashcam
According to analysis of recent road data, serious and fatal road collisions are on the rise in the UK. There is a number of possible reasons for the increase, with inexperience stemming from decreased road use during the coronavirus pandemic a leading theory. Whatever the cause, the roads seem to be a more dangerous place – making vigilance all the more important when driving. There is one tool, though, which can help drivers on the road, both in terms of suffering an accident and improving safety overall: the dashcam.
What is a Dashcam?
A dashcam is an on-board camera you install on your vehicle’s dash or windscreen, which records the road ahead of you during any given journey. They are aftermarket products, which come in a range of styles and specs, but which are seeing increased uptake in cars across the UK. But what are the key benefits to owning one?
Capturing Evidence
The principal benefit to installing a dashcam in your car is to record any accidents in which you may be involved during a given journey. Collisions with other vehicles are difficult enough to manage without the confusion of conflicting testimony; if you encounter a driver unwilling to admit fault, you could find your word against theirs – and an insurance company unwilling to pay for damages.
Having a dashcam installed means that an indisputable recording of the incident is available – disincentivising any difficulty from other parties, and making insurance claims much more straightforward. For example, with dashcam footage you can prove that damage to your lease car was not your fault, making navigating the financial implications much less burdensome on your behalf.
Check Your Driving
Another less-touted benefit to owning a dashcam is that you can use it to monitor your own driving – or the driving of whoever uses your vehicle. Dashcam footage can give you useful insights into driving habits you may have unconsciously adopted, giving you an objective look at your driving style and an opportunity to shape yourself into a better, safer road user.
By this same token, you could use your dashcam to record the footage of others using your vehicle – be it a friend to whom you’ve lent your car, or one of your first-time-driver children you have added to your insurance. It can be especially useful in the latter scenario, where you can ensure safe driving is enacted at all times – and even offer pointers for safer, more confident use of the road.
Reduced Insurance
Installing a dashcam can also have a positive impact on the costs of running a car – in particular, with regard to your insurance premiums. Acquiescence to vehicle monitoring can lead to reduced insurance costs, with many companies offering ‘black box’ insurance which sends them telemetry data regarding speed and location. While there are no specific ‘dashcam’ plans, advising your insurance company that you are using one could see them reduce your premium.
Featured Photo by Nicole Logan on Unsplash
