Milestone says just 2% of accidents captured by SmartWitness CCTV are disputed – compared to an industry norm of 40% of all motor claims while 84% of SmartWitness claims are reported immediately or within 24 hours – meaning insurers can settle claims speedily without running up huge costs leasing vehicles while cars are being repaired.

As a result, the firm is looking to pass on the savings by giving away SmartWitness's £239 professional edition to all drivers included in fleet risk management policies.

Scott Mourton, Milestone managing director, said: ‘I can remember a previous claim which WAS disputed involving a Bentley which had been damaged.

‘The insurer ended up having to supply the driver with a Bentley for four months while the dispute was settled.

‘A claim which should have cost £4,000 to £5,000 ended up costing £70,000. If the accident had been caught on camera, it would have been settled in days. It is this kind of costly dispute which journey recorders can eliminate. We have found the costs of claims have gone down by between 50% and 60%.

‘We have also seen a reduction in the number of third-party passenger injury claims because the cameras prove the number of occupants. All these savings and the vastly improved account performance has allowed us to pass back these benefits to our clients in the form of cheaper and more competitive premiums.’

SmartWitness managing director Simon Marsh added that Smart Witness's fleet customers achieving savings of up to £60,000 a year on their insurance after installing vehicle journey recorders, with one firm having cut its accident rate by 50% as a result of the technology.

Marsh said the reduction in the number of accidents was the key to the cameras' success.

He said: ‘We have always stressed that the primary benefit of SmartWitness cameras is the overall improvement in driving standards.

‘If drivers are being monitored they tend to be more alert and more safety conscious.’