Note this updated policy on the GOV.UK website. You may remember that I wrote about this topic back in February 2014.
Cameras fitted for insurance purposes will be allowed providing they:
- are external facing and do not film the inside of the vehicle
- do not record audio from inside the vehicle
DVSA will under no circumstances accept, comment on, or review audio or video footage provided by a test candidate or third party to facilitate a challenge to the conduct of any theory or practical test or its result. Any footage received in connection with an allegation of criminal activity or intent will be referred to the police.
I notice that certain individuals are claiming that this is evidence of the DVSA back-pedalling. It isn’t. You couldn’t record tests before and you can’t record them now. Nor would any attempt to retrospectively influence a test decision be given any consideration by the DVSA. Anyone stupid enough to try and take things that far would have to go through the courts using private and very expensive routes. Mind you, some people are that stupid.
It should also be noted that DVSA has stated:
If an examiner believes a test is being filmed they will ask the candidate to switch off the camera, if it can’t be switched off or the candidate refuses, the examiner will terminate the test.
Personally, I think DVSA is being too lenient and has merely bowed to pressure from the National Clown Associations. On the other hand, for all practical purposes DVSA has made no real concessions, yet the Associations appear to be well chuffed with their “victory”.
I just hope DVSA realises how far some of the Chief Clowns might be prepared to go if they get hold of video footage of contested tests from any angle.
Incidentally, in 2016 I began using a camera which turns on automatically as soon as the engine starts unless I remove it. I have audio disabled on it, and I have clarified with several examiners that it is not intended to scrutinise them.
It proved its worth a few weeks ago when a pupil failed her test and didn’t know where it had happened (as I often point out, if they knew what they’d done and where they’d done it, they probably wouldn’t have done it to start with). The examiner told me where, and all I had to do was fast forward to the location and send her a link to the HD footage I placed online. It showed her merrily crossing over two lanes on a roundabout – which she wasn’t aware of having done.
Unlike many other ADIs with cameras, I did not for one moment consider that the examiner had made a mistake. If the examiner said she did it, she did it. The footage showed her where.