Drivers are being warned about a Highway Code rule as the improper placement of dashcams can be a serious traffic offence.
Motor safety experts at Road Angel spoke to the ECHO about where dashcams should be placed on the windscreen. Failure to keep the dashcam out of the "red zone" impinging on the driver's view will result in a £200 fine and/or penalty points.
Dashcams with suction cups allow motorists to place the dashcam anywhere on the windscreen so it is easy for drivers to get the placement wrong and be penalised.
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More and more UK drivers are investing in the devices, as they seek the security of the safety features they provide, meaning many more drivers could be unwittingly breaking the law. Dashcams provide an unfiltered recording of any accidents which drivers may be involved in, or witness, giving reliable evidence to the police to examine.
Insurance companies will also often give out discounts for those who install a dashcam, favouring those motorists who are willing to commit to safety. But despite being a useful tool to help improve road safety, many dashcam owners are unaware that their placement may actually be making them less safe and they may be breaking the law.
The Highway Code clearly states that dashcams must not block any view of the road ahead, as the windscreen must be kept free from any obstructions to vision. The Department for Transport further states that dashcams cannot be placed any more than 40mm into the swept area of the windscreen wipers ("zone B") and no more than 10mm of intrusion of "zone A"
"Zone X" is the danger zone, and any dashcam placed here will mean the motorist is subject to serious driving offences as it will obstruct a clear vision of the road ahead.
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