What's the news?
Car insurer, AXA Ireland, is to offer a discount of 10 per cent on policy costs for any direct customers who choose to install a Nextbase dash cam. With the rise in insurance claims, the use of dash cams is becoming more widespread. The small cameras can record continuously with most capable of locking down a file when a motion sensor is triggered in the event of a collision or activated manually by the driver.
Having a clear recording of an incident can prove beneficial in the event of there being no independent witnesses to the event. They can also reduce the risk of insurance fraud, something that has contributed to the rising costs of insurance.
To further incentivise customers, the manufacturer, Nextbase, will also match the offer with a 10 per cent discount on its dash cams purchased in DID, Euronics Electrical, Expert Electrical, Halfords, Micks Garage, Powercity, Sam McCauleys and Soundstore.
Commenting at the announcement, Antoinette McDonald, Direct Partner and Customer Experience Director at AXA, said: "Unfortunately, motor collisions are a regular occurrence on Irish roads, and it is often the case when settling these claims that witness accounts may not exist or may vary or it can take time to obtain Garda evidence. Dash Cams offer a great way for drivers to get extra peace of mind when they are on the road and can be helpful resolve issues when liability is disputed. This partnership with Nextbase provides AXA customers with peace of mind along with savings on both the cost of their insurance and the cost of purchasing a Nextbase Dash Cam."
Richard Browning, Sales Director for Europe at Nextbase, added: "Each of our award-winning Dash Cam range ensure that drivers can feel more secure when driving, be it for a quick trip to the shops, picking up the kids after school or a big road trip. This partnership with AXA is the first of its kind in Ireland and will establish these devices as essential for careful and responsible drivers. It offers the opportunity for drivers to save money on their insurance and protect themselves in the event of an incident''
Anything else?
According to retail analysts GfK Global, sales of dash cams have increased by a massive 1,571 per cent between 2014 and 2017 in the UK. Dash cams are now one of the fastest growing consumer electronics products on the market. A survey by the RAC also found that of drivers asked, a quarter believe that fitting a dash cam would result in them improving their own driving standards.
There is also the counter argument that having a dash cam fitted to your car could result in having evidence against your own driving in the event of a dispute or accident. With insurance premiums rising steadily, the discount factored in with the cost of purchase might not save a great deal of money up front, but could prove invaluable if you need to claim.