Brits are increasingly turning to dashcams to keep them safe on the road, new data reveals.

Some 24,000 dashcam reports of dangerous driving were sent to police in the first half of 2024 via the portal

British dash cam manufacturer Nextbase has reported a record number of videos of dangerous driving sent to its police portal in the first half of 2024.

The first six month of the year saw more than 24,000 reports via video sent to the police via the National Dash Cam Safety Portal (NDCSP) and over 135,000 motoring offences have been submitted over the last five years. The number of submissions is also set to increase by 31% across the whole of 2024.

Recent research also indicates that UK drivers are starting to see dashcams not just as a nice-to-have, but actually a must-have, with 70% believing that all cars should be fitted with one.

Dashcams also have a vital role in keeping vehicles secure as official government data shows vehicle theft remains “stubbornly high”. Brits in crime-ridden neighbourhoods are turning to in-vehicle cameras to help gather evidence of any wrongdoings.

The National Dash Cam Safety Portal was set up by Nextbase as a simple way for the public to send videos of dangerous driving to the police for further action. All police forces across England now accept video uploads in the UK for driving-related offences via the portal, with 70% of submissions resulting in further action. These reports also often lead to other offences, such as stolen vehicles or driving without insurance being uncovered during the process.

Bryn Brooker, head of road safety at Nextbase, commented: “Brits are increasingly making an effort to protect themselves on the road from dangerous drivers, both by installing dashcams and using the footage they record to help get dangerous drivers off the roads. It is perhaps not surprising given so many drivers are taking unnecessary risks in driving while texting, trying to eat a sandwich or some other distraction.

“With more than 135,000 uploads to the portal and another sharp increase in usage this year, the need for technological solutions to improve road safety is clear. We are pleased to see that almost all forces across England and Wales now accept video evidence in this way, making it easier to take dangerous drivers off the road, something that has undoubtedly saved lives.”