Should in-car cameras be made compulsory?

A rise in so-called "crash for cash" scams has led to a surge in motorists using in-car cameras, with 26% supporting a move to make the technology compulsory, research by the RAC has found.

Almost 39% of drivers are considering fitting an in-car camera and 71% of motorists questioned believe they would help to cut fake car insurance claims from staged car crashes.

The practice has become a billion pound industry for car criminals, with a 34% rise in bogus claims made last year, according to the Association of British Insurers.

The faked claims add £90 a year on to the average motorist's premium.

RAC head of external affairs Pete Williams said: "As long as they are used correctly, dashboard cameras are a valuable record of the circumstances that occurred around an accident and as such can help to reduce the cost of personal injury claims which, in turn, should ultimately reduce the cost of insurance.

"Making in-car cameras compulsory would come at a cost initially, but they could pay for themselves in the long run if they cut the nation's premiums."