Dashcams emerge as top safety priority for urban car owners, finds Park+ Survey

A new Park+ Research Labs survey of 3,000 car owners across Delhi NCR, Mumbai, and Bangalore highlights a surprising trend: 48% of respondents ranked front and rear dashcams as the top must-have feature in new cars—surpassing airbags and crash ratings. Amid rising road rage, hit-and-run incidents, and insurance complexities, urban drivers are increasingly favoring smart, tech-enabled solutions that offer real-time accountability over traditional safety measures.

Park+ Research Labs, India’s leading digital-first, data-driven survey platform, has revealed key insights from its latest city-centric study. Surveying 3,000 car owners across Delhi NCR, Mumbai, and Bangalore, the research highlights a growing preference for safety, with 48% of respondents naming dashcams as the one feature they believe should be mandatory in all new cars.

Front & Back Dashcams top the wish list: Contrary to expectations, it’s not 6 airbags or BNCAP ratings — an overwhelming 48% of respondents voted for front and back dashcams as the #1 safety feature they want the government and OEMs to mandate in all new vehicles.

This preference stems from growing urban challenges like road rage, unsafe driving behavior, hit-and-run cases, and complexities around insurance claims. In today’s driving environment, dashcams are seen not just as accessories, but as evidence-generating tools that empower drivers and promote accountability.

Interestingly, car safety features like airbags or crash test ratings didn’t top the list, not because they’re unimportant, but because consumers now view them as basic, non-negotiable expectations. The demand has clearly shifted towards smart, tech-enabled features that offer real-time, post-incident protection.

5-star BNCAP Rating gets second place: 32% of respondents ranked Bharat NCAP 5-star ratings as their preferred safety requirement. While structural safety still matters, it’s no longer seen as a differentiator, but as a given standard in new cars.

Six Airbags & Disc Brakes get lower priority: Survey reveals shift in safety preferences

Surprisingly, only 10% of respondents identified six airbags as a must-have, and just 8% prioritized all-wheel disc brakes—suggesting that car owners believe OEMs already offer these as standard. Instead, the focus has shifted toward more proactive safety tools like dashcams.

Minimal Interest in Alternatives: Just 2% of participants mentioned features outside the core safety list, underscoring a strong consumer emphasis on protection and practicality.

Park+ Research Labs is a data-driven initiative designed to empower stakeholders across the Indian automotive ecosystem with actionable insights that unlock real business value. Leveraging its strong community of car owners, the platform offers OEMs, dealers, service centers, and ancillary service providers a unique window into the mindset of Indian car buyers.

By blending data analytics, user insights, and real-time customer feedback, Park+ Research Labs delivers meaningful intelligence to all automotive stakeholders. With digital-first surveys at its core, the platform provides deep dives into car ownership trends, buying behavior, decision-making journeys, and genuine customer engagement.