>Sales of dashcams have skyrocketed in recent years. There is no specific law governing the use of these cameras. But the handling and distribution of recorded images is indeed subject to strict rules. In any case, you must always respect privacy legislation.
>However, just throwing them on social media or YouTube, for example, is not allowed. You must first ask permission from any persons filmed in the images. As the holder of the camera, you are legally responsible for the processing of personal data under the Privacy Act.
>**If you have an accident, you can use the images as evidence for the police or in a possible lawsuit. You are then obliged to inform the other party – if there is one – that you have a dashcam at the first contact. It is also advisable to state in the police report or on the collision form that there are dashcam images.**
>Practical steps to use images after an accident
>First complete your accident form. If the other party does not want to cooperate, or if there is no other party, complete the form unilaterally and submit it to your insurer.
>Always call the police or report it immediately to your local police station. You can provide them with your dashcam footage, but be careful not to cut or edit it. Only the original images are valid. The police then report the existence of the images in the official report.
>Don’t forget that the police themselves can also retain images from cameras built into your car, including any images that some people today already record with their smartphones mounted on a holder on the dashboard, even in usually more serious accidents.
>**In Belgium and many other European countries, the use of dashcams is allowed, or at least tolerated. Make sure you place them so that they do not obstruct your view and do not operate them while driving.**
>However, in some countries such as Greece, Austria, Portugal and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, their use is prohibited or subject to prior authorization. So inform yourself well about the specific rules when driving through or to those countries.
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>Sales of dashcams have skyrocketed in recent years. There is no specific law governing the use of these cameras. But the handling and distribution of recorded images is indeed subject to strict rules. In any case, you must always respect privacy legislation.
>However, just throwing them on social media or YouTube, for example, is not allowed. You must first ask permission from any persons filmed in the images. As the holder of the camera, you are legally responsible for the processing of personal data under the Privacy Act.
>**If you have an accident, you can use the images as evidence for the police or in a possible lawsuit. You are then obliged to inform the other party – if there is one – that you have a dashcam at the first contact. It is also advisable to state in the police report or on the collision form that there are dashcam images.**
>Practical steps to use images after an accident
>First complete your accident form. If the other party does not want to cooperate, or if there is no other party, complete the form unilaterally and submit it to your insurer.
>Always call the police or report it immediately to your local police station. You can provide them with your dashcam footage, but be careful not to cut or edit it. Only the original images are valid. The police then report the existence of the images in the official report.
>Don’t forget that the police themselves can also retain images from cameras built into your car, including any images that some people today already record with their smartphones mounted on a holder on the dashboard, even in usually more serious accidents.
>**In Belgium and many other European countries, the use of dashcams is allowed, or at least tolerated. Make sure you place them so that they do not obstruct your view and do not operate them while driving.**
>However, in some countries such as Greece, Austria, Portugal and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, their use is prohibited or subject to prior authorization. So inform yourself well about the specific rules when driving through or to those countries.