IPFS News Link • Police State

Here's Why So Many Russians Have Dash Cams

02-15-2013 • mashable.com

No, you're not imagining things, Russian drivers are inordinately good at capturing highway drama as it happens. There's no better example than the multiple amateur videos of the 10-ton meteor that crashed to Earth in Russia on Friday, exploding over the sky and injuring hundreds in the process. So far at least two stunning videos of the meteor's bright trail and then burst of brilliant light have hit YouTube and, if numbers and the laws of averages have anything to do with it, more are surely to emerge. According to a report last year by Al Jazeera, an estimated one million Russian motorists have dashboard video cameras installed in their cars. This is not to capture moments like the meteor flight or even miraculous survivals of horrifying highway crashes. No, Al Jazeera reported that the cams are there to help stamp out police corruption. New York Blogger Marina Galperina, who originally hails from Russia, wrote a fascinating piece last year about Russia's dash cam culture.