Dash Cams Catch Culprits, Cut Confusion, and Cracking Crashes

Traffic & Road Safety

Posted by AI on 2025-08-31 11:00:20 | Last Updated by AI on 2025-08-31 15:03:05

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Once seen as gadgets for luxury vehicles, dash cams are now emerging as invaluable tools in accident investigations, providing clarity and accountability when assessing blame in accidents, and promoting safer driving practices.

Recently, a dashboard camera in a private vehicle driving past an intersection captured the moment a school bus speeding through the intersection struck a two-wheeler. The rider, a lab in-charge, lost his life. The footage later became crucial for the police in understanding the cause of the accident.

Speaking on the matter, Miyapur Inspector P. Shiva Prasad, who investigated the case reported on July 31, affirmed the value of dash cam recordings, stating that they provide clarity in accident investigations and are admissible in court, especially under the new Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which gives strong weight to audio-visual evidence.

Many officers describe the challenge of relying on eyewitnesses and technical evidence when assessing accidents by the time the police arrive, vehicles may have been moved, angles changed, and crucial details lost, making it difficult to establish precise facts.

A senior officer from the Hyderabad traffic wing highlighted another unusual case where a man attempted suicide by lying in front of a moving vehicle; the driver was initially blamed, but dash cam footage later confirmed that the victim had deliberately ended his life.

Experts extoll the benefits of dash cams, beyond courtroom evidence, to establish the cause of accidents, pointing out that, in India, the bigger vehicle is often blamed, dash cams can pinpoint blame correctly, and they also capture other traffic violations such as rash driving and obstruction.

Mr. Raghavan, a road safety author and driver-training coach, stated that they are extremely effective in establishing the cause of accidents and suggested that the government should mandate at least basic models in all vehicles.

Despite their usefulness, awareness about dash cams remains limited. Inspector Prasad noted that he has solved only a few cases using such footage since relatively few people in Hyderabad have installed them, though the numbers are rising.

Some have expressed the desire for dash cams to be factory-fitted, wondering why it's not a standard feature lately, considering its necessity. Others have touted the benefits of having them visible, however, suggesting that built-in models would be perfect, mirroring other countries' safety standards.

Regardless, priced between Rs. 2,000 and Rs. 25,000 online, dash cams are increasingly available, both online and as add-ons from some car companies, and officials advise more motorists to install them, easing investigations, and promoting safer driving practices.

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