According to new research, the submission of dashcam footage to police by vigilant drivers has resulted in fines increasing by nearly 80%.
An escalating number of individuals are providing law enforcement with videos capturing instances of dangerous driving, showing a 55% rise between 2022 and 2024, totaling 210,000 clips.
Data obtained by Confused.com and exclusively shared with Sky News shows that almost one in five (18%) reports concluded with a fixed penalty notice. Additionally, 29% of submissions triggered official warnings, while 14% necessitated drivers to undergo retraining courses, and 5% even led to court prosecutions.
Although these individuals have been labeled «dashcam snitches» by the internet, in many cases, they are aiding authorities in curbing hazardous behavior on UK roads.
The most prevalent offense captured was careless or inattentive driving, accounting for three out of five submitted incidents.
Red light violations represented approximately one out of five, and mobile phone usage constituted one out of six.
Approximately 34% of drivers have a dashcam installed.
«Dashcams have transitioned from simply being convenient gadgets to becoming effective safety tools and crucial sources of evidence in road incidents,» stated Confused.com car insurance expert Rhydian Jones.
Recordings can be submitted to the force’s Operation Snap, which was established in response to the substantial influx of video and photo evidence provided by the public.
Confused.com has developed a tool for individuals to upload their videos.