UK motorists’ use of dash cams has more than doubled in the last year
Dash cams are drivers’ most coveted in-car gadget
1 motorist in 4 believes a dash cam would improve their driving
A new RAC Shop study* has revealed the number of motorists now using dash cams to record their journeys on UK roads has more than doubled in the last year to 2.9 million**.
The research shows 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.
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%).
What’s more, the results suggest 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.
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. We’ve listened to what motorists want and are pleased to announce that we are now offering a £30 discount to our motor insurance customers who have one of our five RAC dash cams installed***.
“We’ve also recently improved our offering by launching three brand new in-car dash cams in time for Christmas. The RAC 03, which incorporates built in GPS - a world first for a rear view mirror dash cam – is joined by the RAC 04 and RAC 05, all of which give motorists more choice when it comes to buying a quality dash cam, at a price point that suits their wallet.
“What’s more, the RAC 04 features built in GPS and an emergency button, this means that when pressed, the current sector of recording becomes protected, and will not be lost when the camera continues recording on a loop. The RAC 05 also uses built in GPS to alert drivers when their vehicle approaches a speed or safety camera. There’s sure to be a model for everyone, from learners, right through to the most seasoned drivers.”
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%).
