Insurers offer black box recorders to fight motor fraud

Insurers are offering black box video recorders to drivers in a bid to prevent fraudulent motor insurance claims.

Motorists installing the boxes can pass on the data to insurers to prove who is at fault when processing claims.

The 'Roadhawk' kits are similar to those used in aircraft and record video, GPS location and the speed of the vehicle.

According to Sky News, some insurers are giving away free recorders to motorists who take out policies in response to a 70% rise in insurance fraud in the last three years.

Towergate Insurance Telford's Larry Smith said the company had recently purchased five thousand of the cameras.

"After an accident, witnesses will often claim to have seen something different. But the cameras give us the ability to determine legal liability because you can't argue in a court of law against video footage," he said.

The US is considering making in-car recorders compulsory.

A road safety bill is being considered after Toyota recalled 8.5 million cars for safety checks after reports of sudden acceleration.

The kits are also being used to keep an eye on garage mechanics, the report added.