Bodyshops could be set to benefit from a new camera/recording system designed to capture vehicle accidents.

The TruScene TS-1L Vehicle Accident Camera can be mounted on the inside of the windscreen. It is powered by the vehicles’ battery and connected via the ignition.

The TS-1L records footage on a 30-second loop. If a predetermined level of g-force is reached by the car, a sensor is activated and the camera commits the latest video image to memory. The device automatically encrypts it and the film is digitally watermarked to eliminate tampering and fraud.

Users must then upload the footage onto the TruScene database. A unique reference number will be issued, which the user can forward on to the insurance company when making a claim. The footage can then be assessed by the insurer and the police via the website.

Mark Bull, industry analyst, says that the success of the TS-1L will depend on how much insurers embrace the technology.

“It’s the insurers that will benefit most from the camera,” says Bull. “They need to drive the uptake. If insurers do this, then it will reduce liability disagreements and repair authorizations will be quicker.”