See reckless driving captured on dashcams in the North East as drivers flout the law

Dashcam footage has captured the moment these reckless road users put themselves and others at risk.

They are among 15,439 drivers reported to Northumbria Police for driving offences since 2018. It comes following the introduction of a new function on the force's website allowing people to submit dashcam footage that captures drivers flouting the law.

The online portal, created in collaboration with Nextbase, has since received a staggering 21,942 submissions for officers to review since its inception. And more than a third of those submissions have led to people facing consequences, with a total of 15,439 drivers reported for driving offences.

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Up until December 2022, this resulted in more than 5,000 motorists attending educational courses to date – with many more handed penalty points and fines through the courts. A string of submissions also resulted in 36 drivers being slapped with driving bans, and a handful of people also receiving prison sentences for their offending.

The team trawl through hundreds of clips each month, which has also helped to reunite rightful owners with stolen vehicles, as well as identify those driving on cloned plates or without insurance.

As Saturday, June 22, marked six years of the portal being in place – an officer from the force’s Roads Policing Unit has praised both the team behind it, and members of the public.

Inspector Phil Patterson, of the Road Safety team at Northumbria Police, said: "First and foremost, I would like to say a huge thank you the public for their continued help in making our dashcam portal what it is today. The success of the initiative is largely down to the significant support we receive from our communities each day, as they act as our eyes and ears on our region's road network.

"This is a brilliant example of how we can work together with people to bring reckless road users to justice – and drive down the serious risks that they pose to others."

Insp Patterson added: "I'd also like to commend the officers and staff who work tirelessly behind the scenes to meticulously watch each submission in a bid to identify offenders and bring them to justice. These latest figures really are testament to their dedication and hard work – and should also serve as a warning to those drivers who regularly flout the law.

"Please know that other motorists are watching you – and their dashcam footage may well result in you receiving a knock at the door or a letter in the post from the police. I would urge everyone to drive responsibly and to keep sharing footage with us, so we can take appropriate action and keep everyone safe."

To find out more about the force's dashcam portal and make a submission, please visit the Northumbria Police website here: Submit your dashcam footage | Northumbria Police

Members of the public can also get in touch by sending a private message on social media, visiting the live chat on their website or by completing a crime update form. If you're unable to contact Northumbria Police this way, you can call 101 for non-urgent matters. In an emergency, or where a crime is taking place, always dial 999.