AA reveals motorists concerns about bogus claims - 46% would consider a dashboard camera

An AA Motor Insurance survey of almost 10,000 people reveals that more than 46% of people would consider using a dashboard camera to protect themselves and for greater peace of mind in the event of a personal injury claim.

AA Consumer Affairs Director Conor Faughnan said, "There is no doubt that it is a driver's nightmare to be innocently involved in a minor collision only to find a major claim is being taken against you."

AA Insurance included the question in its most recent poll of motorists because the issue was highlighted, rather strangely, by the amount of remarkable footage of the meteor strike in Chelyabinsk, Russia last February. The reason so many dashboard cameras caught that event is because Russians have taken to the technology in a big way to protect themselves against bogus crash claims, and it is clear that Irish drivers think this is a good idea as well.

"Ten years ago we had a serious problem with the 'compensation culture' in Ireland. It was a key reason why our motor insurance was so high at double the typical cost of the UK," said Mr Faughnan.

The AA is concerned that the number of injury claims is creeping back upwards again despite fewer road crashes and a reduction in traffic volumes in the economy downturn. According to data from the Personal Injuries Board claims numbers increased by 5% last year and are up by a quarter since 2007.

"We have been here before and we do not want to go back. It will wind up costing every motorist money in rising insurance costs if we don't control it. Certainly we do not want to see the emergence of 'claims-farming firms' as has happened in the UK. These are as insidious and unwelcome as 'payday loans' and we do not want them in Ireland," concluded Mr Faughnan.