DRIVERS have been warned about a common dashcam mistake that could put their life at risk.
Dashcams are legal on UK roads and don’t require special permission to install, but there are still rules on how to use them.
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Handily, safety experts at Road Angel have cleared up any confusion for UK drivers about where dashcams should be placed on the windscreen.
Failure to keep the dashcam out of the ‘red zone’ – blocking the driver’s view – will result in penalty points or even a charge of dangerous driving in Scotland.
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.
And The Department for Transport says 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”.
While dashcams should be on the windscreen to capture the best perspective of everything going on, they cannot block the motorist’s line of sight in any way.
If placed incorrectly, drivers will be breaking the law and any footage could be deemed unreliable if the dashcam was blocking full view of the road ahead.
And experts have found that drivers want to fit dashcams in their line of sight because they feel the screen of the dashcam must be there to look at.
But actually, the best place for these safety recording devices is at the top centre of the windscreen, next to the rearview mirror.
If caught with a dashcam or other device which is placed in a position which prevents clear vision, drivers will risk receiving three penalty points on their licence for improper placement.
Gary Digva, the founder of Road Angel, said: “Putting the dashcam in a position which blocks any vision for you whilst driving is an absolute no-go – you can be subject at the very minimum to three penalty points on your licence.
“The best place to put your dashcam is up high up right by your rearview mirror.
“That way, the camera can capture both sides of the road and doesn’t cause any obstruction.
“Any footage which was captured from a dashcam blocking the view of the road ahead could be deemed as insufficient and actually be used against you for driving dangerously without clear vision.”
