Road Users Capture Over 230,000 Dangerous Driving Offences

Vigilant road users capture over 230,000 dangerous driving offences for UK police since 2022 : Dashcam footage submissions to Operation SNAP have led to a 79% increase in Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) issued between 2022 to 2024

• Between 2022 and 2024 video submissions to police constabularies have increased by 55% under Operation SNAP.
• Almost one third (29%) of video submissions from the public between 2022 and 2024 resulted in a warning. Nearly 1 in 5 (18%) resulted in a Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN).
• Over 1 in 3 drivers (34%) currently own a dash cam.

  2 in 5 (37%) have used the footage to avoid being blamed for an incident and prove their innocence. 

• Despite this, awareness of Operation SNAP remains low. Nearly 3 in 4 drivers (73%) are unaware of the scheme, and almost a third (29%) saying local police should do more to promote it.
• Confused.com has created a tool for sharing dashcam footage that helps motorists submit video footage to their local Operation SNAP, giving a step by step guide to filing a report. 

New research reveals a surge in the public taking on the role of road-side watchdogs, submitting video footage of dangerous driving to their local police force.

Since 2022, road users have captured over 230,000 dangerous driving offences, which have then been submitted to local police forces. That's according to Confused.com who submitted a Freedom of Information (FOI) request to UK police constabularies. The data shows that 232,709 videos of dangerous driving were submitted from January 2022 to May 2025 as many road users take safety into their own hands.(1) This trend is accelerating year-on-year, as reports in 2024 were 55% higher than in 2022.  

These submissions are part of Operation SNAP(2), an online platform that allows road users to upload video footage of road incidents to their local police force. Before its launch, submitting evidence often meant navigating different and complicated processes across police constabularies. Operation SNAP has streamlined this, making it far easier for road users to provide crucial footage.

The rise in video submissions has had a clear impact on enforcement. Between 2022 and 2024, 18% of reports resulted in a Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN). The number of fines have more than quadrupled from 2,464 in 2022 to 11,629 in 2024, increasing by 79%.

During the same period, 29% of submissions prompted official warnings, while 14% required drivers to attend re-training courses and 5% of submissions even led to court prosecutions. Operation SNAP submissions are increasing at different rates around the UK. Among the police forces who reported submissions, the top 10 included: 

When it comes to the reasons for camera submissions, the most common offence recorded is careless or inattentive driving.

This made up 3 in 5 (63%) of all submitted incidents between 2022 and 2024. That's while red light offences account for around 1 in 5 (18%) and mobile phone use represents over 1 in 6 (17%) of the reports between this period.  The Operation SNAP initiative is part of a wider effort to improve road safety.

In recent years, new measures including AI speed cameras(3) and new laws requiring mandatory eye tests for drivers over 70(4) were introduced. According to a survey of 2,000 UK drivers, just over 1 in 3 (34%) currently have a dash cam installed. Over 2 in 5 (43%) of those with a dash cam say their main reason is to protect themselves in case of an incident. 

Almost 2 in 5 (37%) drivers have used their footage to prove their innocence following a car incident. Additionally, over 1 in 4 (28%) have provided footage to support an insurance claim, showing the value of the devices when disputes arise. Yet awareness of schemes such as Operation SNAP remains low.

Nearly 3 in 4 drivers (73%) admitted they were unaware of it and almost a third (29%) believe local police should do more to promote such schemes. However, it seems that some people might be more sceptical about encouraging the public to submit video footage.

1 in 6 (16%) said they are concerned dash cams could create privacy risks or be misused to spy on people.  It's clear the nation is ready to embrace dash cam technology as a tool for both personal protection and public safety.

If the reporting process was better known and easier to follow, this technology could make a real difference on the roads. That's as over 1 in 5 (21%) said they've seen dangerous driving but didn't know how to report it.  To bridge this gap, the Confused.com car insurance team has created an online tool for sharing dashcam footage that walks road users through every step of submitting video evidence to Operation SNAP.

By simply selecting their local constabulary, road users can see exactly how to upload footage and learn how their video can help police take swift action. The tool also offers advice on sending dash cam footage to insurers. Motorists can get the full benefit of their recordings for safety, reduced premiums and smoother insurance claims should they need to share the footage.

Rhydian Jones, Confused.com car insurance expert, comments: "In recent years, new measures have been introduced to make roads safer, from the rollout of AI cameras to the new Operation SNAP scheme. Our latest research shows that more than 232,709 videos have been submitted to police since 2022.

"Dash cams are no longer just handy gadgets, they have become effective safety tools and crucial sources of evidence when incidents occur on the roads. However, it's understandable that some people remain unsure about the privacy implications of the scheme.  "But efforts like this are an important step toward safer roads.

They give drivers and passengers a platform to share video footage of potentially dangerous behaviour directly with the police but many don't know where to begin.

"To help make it simpler, we've created a tool for sharing dashcam footage with Operation SNAP.   It guides road users to their local police force, explains the reporting steps, and helps them declare their dash cam to insurers if they have one.

Their footage can genuinely help keep everyone safer on the road."

Transport & Logistics - Driving The Industry Forward