Ryan Tan has been using dash cams for over 10 years. He says they provide an important third line of defense on our roadways. His recent experience solidifies this belief. While parked at a shopping mall in October of 2023, a fellow driver crashed into the driver’s side door of Woudsma’s car. Luckily, dash cam footage recorded exactly what happened that day. This thorough documentation allowed him to avoid major repair damage costs, roughly $3,000-$5,000.
Dash cam use in Australia has skyrocketed. According to a 2019 survey, dash cam owners were on average one out of five drivers. This translated to about 4 million more vehicles already having this key safety feature. Even with this increasing trend, the reality is that only one-fourth of drivers currently have a dash cam installed in their primary vehicle. A report from dash cam manufacturer Nextbase finds that 44% of Australian motorists believe these cameras should be required by law. This is indicative of a dawning realization of the potential they hold.
Legal Perspectives on Dash Cam Footage
And there’s a good reason for that, as Aidan Ricciardo, a senior lecturer in law, explains the growing influence of dash cam footage on legal proceedings. He observes that courts are now admitting this type of evidence as “generally reliable” and “unproblematic,” particularly in criminal cases. Dash cam footage was key in a recent prosecution against Perth obstetrician Rhys Bellinge. At the time, he was under investigation for allegedly prompting a fatal collision in February of 2025. The video footage recovered from his car was key evidence for prosecutors.
Ricciardo is realistic about the valid concerns drivers have about potential self-incrimination if they are recording their own footage. “It could just as readily be used against you as it could to protect your legitimate interests. It could be used to protect someone else’s interests,” he states. He’s convinced that if more drivers had dash cams, they’d record a treasure chest of evidence for our courts. More of this type of evidence would be a tremendous help in determining what really happened.
“Courts have acknowledged that in some situations, dash cam footage can be more reliable than witness accounts of what they remember from the event, partly because human memory is fallible.” – Aidan Ricciardo
Dash cameras can help in more situations than just showing that an accident wasn’t your fault. Ricciardo can’t stress enough how valuable this footage is. That’s certainly important for recording interactions or statements made in the course of an incident, but serves a multitude of uses in the legal system.
The Growing Demand for Dash Cams
These conclusions from the Nextbase report give an undeniable argument on why Australian drivers should invest in these useful gadgets. Forty-five percent of Americans believe that these devices should be required. Just one in four have proactively installed one in their main vehicle. This gap indicates that a significant portion of drivers might not realize the rewards that await them once they install a dash cam.
Ryan Tan is part of a growing demographic of drivers who go out of their way to find this technology to gain peace of mind. When I first learned about dash cams, I watched a few user review videos online, ordered one online and installed it myself. It was surprisingly simple to get up and running with,” he puts it. When it comes to dash cams, the added sense of security he feels as a driver is invaluable. Countless others express the same sentiment through their personal stories.
Mr. Ricciardo points out that while dash cams can serve to enhance driver safety by providing evidence during incidents, there are nuances to their use. He mentions that police often seek access to footage if they see a dash cam installed in a vehicle involved in an accident. “If you are involved in a serious enough accident, the police almost certainly will want to access the footage,” he states.
“If you’re someone who’s unlikely to get into incidents on your own, it does more to protect you than it does to harm you in those cases.” – Aidan Ricciardo
The Future of Dash Cams on Australian Roads
As technology develops and the public becomes more aware of their potential benefits, the future of dash cams continues looking up. Not only do these devices save time and money, but they protect the safety of each individual driver. They are just as vital to our judicial system. Even more drivers have expressed interest in putting these cameras up. This trend could result in a dramatic increase in the number of vehicles that have them included.
Ryan Tan reflects on his own experience with dash cams: “There are a lot of different price options and capabilities, but the main thing is you feel safe and you have something that can back you up when you actually need it.” This sentiment rings true for most Australians who want safe roads and want to see bad drivers held accountable.
