John Mcllroy

FOR some people, a national platform for dash cam footage to help prosecute fellow road users may stir up fresh concerns about a “big brother” state. But in truth, and based upon the reaction of leading road safety bodies to Operation Snap, it could be a useful asset to help keep driving standards in check.

Provided there are guidelines in place on how the forces view the footage and act upon it, the new system could be a much more positive thing than speed cameras, which enforce the law instead of policing it.

The key, as always, will be what the police do with the footage that’s been supplied to them. The system will, at some point, require judgement on whether to prosecute or not – the sort of reasoning that would normally be the job of an officer.

So while the footage may be a useful asset, it is conceivable that it will do little more than expose a different area where police resources are threadbare.

“The system could be more positive than speed cameras”