Welcome to the third issue of Crash Towing Industry News.
Our regular newsletters will provide important updates about the crash towing industry reforms including legislative changes that may affect how you operate.
Dashcam requirements
To improve safety and accountability at crash sites, new regulations will require all tow
trucks involved in crash towing to have dashboard cameras (dashcams).
This is to:
- Improve Evidence Collection: Dashcam footage will provide important visual documentation of crash sites, helping with investigations and ensuring correct records of events.
- Encourage Compliant Behaviour: The presence of dashcams should encourage proper behaviour by all parties at the scene, including tow truck workers and other personnel.
Dashcam Regulations for Tow Trucks at Crash Sites
The dashcams will face forward and be unobstructed, filming through the front windscreen and not recording what happens within the tow truck. The intent is to film travel to crash sites, soliciting to have authority to tow forms signed, loading of crashed vehicles and travel away from crash sites.
The footage is to be kept for three months after each tow, and to be shared with the
Department of Transport on request.
These following regulations will help guide you with proper dashcam recordings to
improve safety, accountability, and evidence collection.
- Mandatory Recording: All tow truck operators at crash scenes must use dashcams to record their activities.
- Operational Dashcam: All tow truck operators must make sure the dashcam is working correctly and positioned to capture the footage before heading to a crash.
- Camera Angle: The camera must capture a clear view through the front windscreen with no obstructions.
- Display Information: The recording must always display the time and date in Australian Western Standard Time (AWST).
- Non-Stop Recording: Recordings must be non-stop and start when the tow truck begins travelling to the scene or at least 2km away from the scene if the journey is longer. If the next destination is less than 2km away, recording must continue until the tow truck reaches the destination.
- Recording Quality: The recording must be at least 720p and must be free from any interferences that affect its quality.
- Penalties: Failure to follow these regulations may result in penalties.
- Prompt Submission: The tow truck driver must provide the recording to their towing service provider for storage as soon as possible, and within 48 hours of attending the crash site.
It is important to have thorough and reliable visual footage of all crash site operations
Join us at an information session
As the Regulations are being developed DoT will hold a series of industry information sharing and consultation forums. To express your interest in attending one of these sessions please complete this form below.
Contact us
If you are unable to locate the information you require on our website, please submit your enquiry below.
Kind regards
Towing Governance & Regulation
Department of Transport
GPO Box R1290, Perth WA
6844
