Why aren't cars fitted with dash cams as standard?

The Tesla Model 3 is fitted as standard with cameras that record the road ahead. It's the reason Surrey Police were able to release the footage of a motorist who caused a three vehicle collision by driving on the wrong side of the road in Stanwell.

Court Result ⚖️

Muhammad Aslam (42) from Sixth Avenue, Newham was convicted of Dangerous Driving when he caused a three vehicle collision by driving on the wrong side of the road in Stanwell.

12 month Disqual with extended re-test requirement.
80 hours unpaid work.
£180 fine. pic.twitter.com/kAwPwmXaV4

— Roads Policing Unit (RPU) - Surrey Police - UK (@SurreyRoadCops) February 2, 2022

An increasing number of drivers, riders and cyclists now fit dash cams, but why isn't the technology factory fitted? After all, in the event of a collision, the footage can help determine exactly what happened...and who is to blame. Perhaps that's the very reason so few car makers offer factory fitted cameras as an option. They also object to 'black box' data recorders, which will be mandatory in new cars built in the European Union from May 2022 and in second-hand cars from May 2024. Similar regulations are already in place in America.

Black box data recorders record data in a continuous loop, writing over information again and again until a crash occurs - at which point the device automatically saves up to 5 seconds of data from immediately before, during and after the incident.

The new law mandating black boxes is not without its critics. A petition organised by the Ligue de Défense des Conducteurs (Drivers’ Defence League) has attracted more than 250,000 signatures and reads: “This measure opens the way to permanent monitoring of drivers and an explosion of fines and licence points.” Nobody with a wish to reduce road danger would dispute either of those points.

The data recorders and a form of speed limiter known as 'intelligent speed assistance' technology are part of a package of 11 advanced safety measures required for all new models that will save thousands of lives.

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