A small camera can absolve you of the responsibility for road accidents

When a motorist is involved in an accident, it can be difficult to prove to the police and insurance companies, which party bears the responsibility.

For an increasing number of drivers, the solution is however simple: A small camera - a so-called dashcam, which is constantly filming out of the car's windshield can quickly prove who did what.

- If the recording can document the sequence of events, it can be included as evidence on an equal footing with the other evidence in the assessment of the question of guilt. Provided of course, that it is lawfully admitted, says Mogens Olesen, who is skadedirektør at Tryg Insurance, to bilistorganisationen FDM.

Tryg Insurance is one of the insurance companies, which are experiencing an increase in the number of drivers with a dashcam in the windshield.

For Leon Lyfort Schramm was forrudekameraet prove to be his rescue, when he in June last year påkørte a cyclist in central Copenhagen.

For the FDM he tells that the film from his dashcam to show he drove by the book, and that it was the cyclist who ran a red light. The officers then allegedly his video on the scene of the accident, and some months later he got to know that the police would not do more in the matter.

- You will be penalised only, if you have violated the criminal provisions of the road traffic, and it is up to the police or the prosecution to lead fully proof that you have it, says the lawyer in FDM, Casper Schad to the FDM.dk.

On the way can dashcammet both make it easier for authorities to place responsibility for an accident, as well as ensuring the driver's legal status - and conscience.

- I've seen the film several times since, and I have no doubt that I did something wrong. But anyway, I was pretty nervous of losing the licence, as the cyclist is the soft part, he tells for the FDM.

The small forrudekameraer can be purchased for hundreds of dollars, but are highly controversial in many countries.

While privatlivsforkæmpere do not like the idea that the private cars in public spaces to be equipped with small surveillance cameras, other small gadgets as a safe guard, if the accident should be out and the driver's innocence must be proven.

In countries such as Austria, Portugal and Luxembourg are the use of dashcams in the public space public. Conversely, it is widespread practice in Russia, the united kingdom and parts of the UNITED states.

In Denmark, it is allowed, as long as the equipment does not interfere with driving, and steals focus from the road. To, in turn, removes the camera, not the liability, as drivers will always be imposed in connection with injury of pedestrians, cyclists or other so-called vulnerable road users.