PoliceWitness: 75% of motorists want to take the law in to their own hands

New research from PoliceWitness, the innovative service for protecting motorists and communities, has revealed that Joe Public wants to be more proactive in reporting reckless driving on Britain’s roads.

The independent study* revealed that:

• nearly four out of five motorists (79%) has wished there was a policeman or woman around to witness the reckless driving of others;
• nearly two thirds of Brits (65%) wished they had an in-car video camera in order to record another motorist’s wanton driving which could then be passed on to the police;
• 75% of motorists believe that assisting the police by videoing and reporting drivers who flout the law, through schemes like PoliceWitness.com, is not an infringement of human rights;
• more than a quarter of drivers (28%) have been involved in a car accident where the other driver admitted it was their fault, yet they still got charged an excess for repair works;
• these motorists are from all age groups and incomes, dispelling the myth that the people who like to complain about bad driving are older, affluent types.

Matt Stockdale, CEO of PoliceWitness.com says: “In these austere times and with services such as the Police Force stretched to their limits, it makes sense for the public to do their bit in helping tackle crime.

“Motoring related crime, in particular, is something that concerns most of us. As our study shows, 79% of motorists have witnessed reckless driving and have been powerless to do anything about it.

“This shouldn’t be the case, however, and that is why the use of technology by concerned motorists, such as in car video cameras, can actually make a difference. And with more awareness, this might make people think twice about driving recklessly, which will make our roads safer. Surely a win-win all-round.”

Mr. Stockdale adds that in the last ten months and using in-car recording equipment via his service, hundreds of drivers have been reported by members of the public, many of who have been:

• fined and taken endorsements on their licences;
• attended a compulsory re-training course (at their own cost);
• banned.

“We are empowering people to assist the over stretched Police Force in making our roads a safer place”.

For further information, log on to www.policewitness.com.

ENDS

*Independent study carried out on behalf of PoliceWitness by Usurv, August 2013, across a sample of UK motorists aged 18-60+.

Contact: 

Matt Stockdale, CEO of PoliceWitness.com is available for comment / interview. Please call 01908 44 00 77 or email: stockdalem@policewitness.com 

About PoliceWitness:

PoliceWitness.com provides “dash-cams” that enable motorists to record incidents on the road and involving their vehicle. Footage can be uploaded to the PoliceWitness website who will then forward it on to the relevant Police authority or your insurer, depending on the incident.

PoliceWitness.com has extensive knowledge of both frontline and strategic policing, and the operation of the Crown Prosecution Service. Through its contacts with the police, PoliceWitness.com facilitates the consideration of ‘prosecution quality’ video evidence supplied directly from the public, reporting road related incidents in a format the police and CPS recognise and can act upon. Reports are submitted directly to a specifically assigned officer, thus by-passing the control centre who are then free to process more urgent requests for assistance.

This proactive approach to true ‘public’ policing offers a standardised, commercial methodology across all forces, saving our police forces huge amounts of resource and planning. Whilst providing this service, PoliceWitness.com is able to identify countrywide public perceptions, and more importantly expectations, with regard to road related offences and the service provided by the authorities.

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