Dashcams no longer a convenience, now a necessity

SHAH ALAM - Experts are urging authorities to consider making dashcams mandatory for all vehicles, citing their crucial role in enhancing road safety and resolving disputes.

Miros chairman Professor Dr Wong Shaw Voon believes that the time has come for dashcams to be considered not just a convenience but a necessity.

He acknowledges the evolving technology in dashcams, which forms crucial part of a vehicle, rather than an accessory, emphasising that it is now offering more than just recording capabilities but providing clear video views.

"Dashcam to be made mandatory? At this stage, it is easier to (make it mandatory due to its availability) but I think it is now becoming a necessity and became a must eventually in modern cars.

"These days car with integrated camera systems does many more things than just capturing videos and images, where the video captured will be processed simultaneously to determine incoming dangers such as the front object is getting too close and requiring immediate emergency brake intervention,” he told Sinar Daily.

He added that nowadays, many cars could already perform such Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB).

However, he raised concerns about mandating a specific specification for video capturing, highlighting the importance of focusing on the safety functions that enhance safety, such as AEB and Lane Keeping Assist, which utilises video being captured and processed.

"The safety potential and functions are more attractive and impactful than a video-capturing device. Potential security and anti-theft benefits can be achieved with the onboard or integrated cameras system should also be explored,” he said.

Wong also suggested that everyone should not underestimate the potential that one could acquire with livestream video to the cloud storage which was an emerging trend, especially for potential use in litigation.

However, he said it could be challenging especially in terms of the Personal Data Protection Act under the Malaysian Law.

Wong expressed the need and the challenges to make such mandatory in storing and using captured video by the authorities under the present circumstances.

Commenting further, Messrs Anton & Chen Senior Partner Alex Anton Netto echoed the views of making dashcams compulsory in all vehicles.

Alex stressed that mandatory dashcams could play a crucial role in eliminating disputes arising from accidents, especially in fatal cases.

"Dashcam should be made compulsory in all cars moving forward to avoid any dispute in an accident, especially when it is a fatal accident.

"The ability of dashcams to provide irrefutable evidence of the events leading up to an accident can contribute to a fair resolution for all parties involved.

"With dashcams, there can be no dispute as to what transpired in an accident and this could bring about justice to all parties involved," he reasoned.

He however points out that several countries, including Russia, South Korea and Taiwan, have already mandated the installation of dashcams in vehicles.

He suggests that Malaysia could take cues from these nations and explore similar regulations to ensure the widespread adoption of dashcams for enhanced road safety and legal clarity.

"As of 2021, countries like Russia, South Korea and Taiwan have already made it mandatory for vehicles to come equipped with dashcams.

"Perhaps the Transport Ministry could look to these countries for guidance," he added.