Dash cam technology can be developed to help reduce road offending.

Researchers at Keele University are working alongside Lincolnshire Police to explore better ways to utilise technology. Using a  £150,000 grant from the Road Safety Trust, the research aims to explore the opportunities, and potential challenges, posed by the increasing use of dash cams.

Public help

Approximately 6,000 pieces of digital footage are sent to police forces every month. It suggests a growing public appetite for this approach and is proving an increasingly important area of  roads safety.

Research will explore the potential from the perspective of the police and of the public. Engagement will take place with forces across the UK, as well people who have already submitted footage to the police.

Those already penalised through the use dash cam footage will also be questioned to understand the effectiveness of collaborations and penalties.

The intended result is to provide ideas on the best ways to contribute to road safety and provide a national framework for public and police.

Policing road dangers

Dr Helen Wells, senior lecturer in criminology at Keele University, says helping te police in this way is already proving popular.

“This important project will help us to understand more about the implications of road users policing each other in this way.”

Detective chief superintendent Andy Cox, head of crime at Lincolnshire Police, welcomes the public’s help in fighting crime. “The police cannot solve this alone and must work collaboratively with partners to reduce road danger. ”

He believes the research will provide a great resource for taking the collaborations going forward.

“The police cannot be everywhere all of the time,” says Cox.

Find out more

The project will also be the subject of a presentation at the 2022 National Road Safety Conference. You can find out more here .