I bet that this thought came to you at the dangerous situation on the road, and perhaps much more often. However, for various reasons, you put off this venture for later. Indeed, in principle, millions of other drivers somehow managed without a dashcam for decades. True, although I am sure, that your safety on the road is one of your top priorities.

A video recording of an accident may be one of the main proofs of your innocence, and most often the only one.

So, you think, damage to your car, photos from the scene of the accident, the apology of another driver, automatically prove your version of what happened, and the passengers of your car complement it and make it more significant. Of course, you don't suspect any trick. But in reality, not everything is so simple.

Damage to your car and photos from the accident scene will not be evidence that the accident circumstances were as you describe them if the other party puts forward an entirely different version. And your passengers will not be accepted by the court as independent witnesses, and therefore their testimony will not be heard. You can completely forget about the other driver's apologies because, for various reasons, many skilfully change the version of what happened in a matter of hours after the accident.

You confidently file a claim against the insurance company of the guilty driver, calculate the approximate amount of losses, but in response, you find out that the guilty party does not accept responsibility for the accident. You are completely bewildered by what is happening because you still believe in the evidence that you are right. Usually, at such moments a video recorder comes to the rescue, if, of course, it was purchased.

Of course, there are a couple of other ways to prove your innocence. For example, to find video from CCTV cameras or provide testimony from independent witnesses, but think about how often witnesses simply do not stop at the scene to avoid the hassle with the Courts, and outdoor surveillance cameras in general rarity not working. Another reason to return to the statement that the dashcam may be the only reliable way to prove you are right. It is advantageous in collisions on the roundabouts, when changing lanes, in parking lots, etc.

Below are some interesting facts about dashcams:

Using dashcam is entirely legal in the UK, but they have restrictions.

For example, if you are using a car for non-personal purposes, you must notify all passengers that a video recorder is installed in it. You should also under no circumstances interact with the dashcam while driving, as it is illegal. The same rule applies when your car is stationary. If you get caught doing this, you could face a £ 100 fine and points on your license.

Dash camera can save your life.

Statistics show that 50% of road traffic deaths occur even before emergency services arrive at the scene. For example, with the help of telephone applications for the video recorder, which review your incident recordings after a few seconds after the accident, alert emergency services if necessary. This can mean the difference between life and death, especially if you are travelling alone.

Be careful when using dashcam abroad.

You will probably be surprised that while dashcam can be used without restriction in some European countries, in countries like France and Belgium, they can only be used privately, only if any recorded facts sent directly to the police. In other countries, such as Portugal and Austria, the use of dashcam is generally prohibited, and drivers seen using them may face fines of thousands of pounds.

Considering the above, I believe that having a dashcam is one of any drivers' primary tasks.

In conclusion, I would like to ask a question: - Do you think that the factory installation of the dash cam on vehicles can simplify the process of litigation between insurance companies?

Write your answers in the comments.

Olga Volk shared her thoughts.