Dashcam footage could confirm or disprove motorist’s story

QMy sympathies for the driver who was trying to de-escalate the road rage driver on Highway 101 near Morgan Hill.

I had a similar terrifying incident. An angry truck driver confused me with another car (same color, year and make) that had cut him off and I suddenly found myself the target of a 6-ton truck trying to slam me off the road and forcefully stopping in front of me on a busy highway.

Thankfully, I was near a gas station exit so I fled the highway, stopped at the station and stayed locked in my car until the truck driver finally drove away.

After that incident, I immediately installed a front and rear dashcam in my car.

What are the laws around using dashcam video footage for police or insurance evidence, particularly when a road rage incident like this occurs? — Susan Burnett,

Capitola

AVideos can be used as evidence.

The footage, as well as interviews or any other factors involved, will be weighed by the courts in determining prosecution and might be used to corroborate or to disprove the driver’s story.

More drivers, motorcyclists and bicyclists are using devices like GoPro or dash cameras to document their trips.

Safety experts hope it will lead to better driving as bad drivers realize their actions may be caught on tape.

QThe DMV website is a semi-joke.

Not only was it a hurdle to “register” when I was following the instructions provided to me by the Santa Clara County Court to find a traffic school, it took a few times reentering my registration after being told the site didn’t exist.

After many tries, I finally got to the “Get Traffic School List” only to find out it was something called the Occupational list.

Further, the site doesn’t not have a back button.

I could go on and on with my frustration. Seriously, something needs to be done to improve the DMV website.

— Killian Byrne

AThe information can be found on the DMV home page.

Registration to the site is not required.

Go to the Driving School List page: www. dmv.ca.gov/portal/drivereducation-and-safety/ driver-training-schools/ driving-school-list.

From the home page, click Driver Education & Safety, follow the prompts to Driver Training Schools, then Driving School List, then Find a Driving School.

Once you click the “I Agree” button, you may click Traffic School List.

QThere is new pavement on Highway 17 between Lark Avenue and Hamilton Avenue and the striping is a disgrace.

Either the lowest bidder won or a drunk did the work. — Pat Ferguson, Monte Sereno

AThis is temporary. Crews will be back out to correct the striping.