Based on the valuable evidence dash cams have provided in recent years, it’s interesting that more vehicles don’t have them. Because they’re a relatively new phenomenon, there are no US laws regulating dash cams, and while many commercial truckers use them, it’s not required.
Human memory is fallibleand people often fail to see important details, but it’s hard to argue with video footage. That’s why dash cams have become so important when it comes toprosecuting reckless and negligent drivers. Dashboard-mounted cameras are a relatively new phenomenon in this country, but are becoming more and more commonplace in commercial trucks as truck drivers seek to show that they’re not necessarily liable for accidents.
A commercial truck driver in northern Ontario learned firsthand how powerful dash cam evidence can be after his own camera captured a near-collision between himself and another semi driver. The video, which was uploaded to Youtube and has received over 1.6 million views, shows the driver rounding a corner on a narrow, snowy highway and approaching a semi that was traveling in the wrong lane as it attempted to pass a snow plow. The video then shows the driver of the truck with the dash cam yelling and steering into the guard rail to avoid a head-on collision as the other driver wildly swerved back into his lane at the last second.
Luckily the truck driver who steered into the guardrail was not seriously harmed, but his truck suffered a lot of damage and he was clearly very shaken. If there hadn’t been a dash cam in the truck, he most likely would not have seen the license plate number or been able to remember important details about the trucker who almost killed him. But thanks to the footage, police have been able to identify the reckless driver, who is now facing charges.
Dash Cams Are the New Norm in Many Traffic Accident Cases
The near-collision in Ontario isn’t the first incident of a truck’s dash cam footage being widely shared online and resulting in charges against a reckless driver. In November 2013, dash cam footage showing a truck driver looking at Facebook on his phone moments before plowing into a highway patrol car made headlines and was used as evidence in the case against him.
In Salt Lake City, the dash cam on a Utah Highway Patrol car recently captured a distracted semi-truck driver swerving to avoid a concrete barrier and almost jack-knifing into the patrol car. The trooper, who was barely able to avoid the accident, says that he hopes the harrowing video will serve as a reminder about the dangers of distracted driving.
Why Don’t More Vehicles Use Dash Cams?
Based on the valuable evidence dash cams have provided in recent years, it’s interesting that more vehicles don’t have them. Because they’re a relatively new phenomenon, there are no US laws regulating dash cams, and while many commercial truckers use them, it’s not required.
In Russia, on the other hand, practically every motor vehicle has a dash cam. One Russian motorists’ rights activist went so far as to say, “You can get in your car without your pants on, but never get in your car without your dash cam.” Why does Russia place such an emphasis on this driving technology?The country’s legal system doesn’t usually favor first-hand accounts of traffic accidents, which makes it essential for drivers to use dash cams if they want to be able to show that they weren’t at fault in a crash.
It seems pretty likely that dashboard cameras will become more popular in the US as we continue to see how they can be used to accurately determine fault in an accident. In a multi-vehicle accident when emotions are high and both drivers are claiming that the other was to blame, video footage provides a clear, objective look at the crash. The more cars that start using dash cams, the clearer the picture of motor vehicle accidents in our country will become, and the more we can do to stop dangerous driving – and get compensation to the accident victims who need it.
