A dashcam, like the name implies, is a device designed to record everything that happens while you drive. You can think of it as a GoPro for your car. The exception is that it has many practical uses aside from pure entertainment. Police vehicles, taxi services, bus drivers, and other public transportation vehicles are using dashcams. They are becoming increasingly popular amongst daily commuters.
So … should you get a dashcam? We say “yes”. Here are some reasons you might want to consider getting one:
Surveillance or footage of how an accident played out
This is perhaps the main reason why drivers want to have a dashcam. Even better than an eye-witness, video footage provides the proof you need if you were ever involved in an accident or need to dispute a traffic violation. If there’s a question as to who’s at fault, it can saving you a lot of time and money.
Many dashcams allow you to record your conversations. However, you can usually turn off this functionality if you don’t want it.
Dashcams have a “standby” feature which allow the camera to only turn on if it detects motion around the vehicle. So if you’re worried about vandalism, a hit and run, theft, or parking your car in an unknown neighbourhood, a dashcam can give you a sense of security (or footage for the police) when you need it.
Great for parents of new drivers
It’s hard to think of a better incentive to drive responsibly than knowing you’re being recorded. If you are the parent of a new driver or happen to lend your car to friends or relatives frequently, the dashcam allows you to review where your car has been driven and if it’s being driven responsibly.
Capture cool or unexpected events
For outdoor enthusiasts or those who love taking road trips, dashcams give you a front seat recording that documents your travels. Some of the coolest things can happen before you have time to pick up your camera. A dashcam records everything as it happens in real time. Dashcam software allows you to transfer the videos to your computer and play them back at a fast-forward speed so it doesn’t take you 20 minutes to watch a 20-minute trip.
Why dashcams are a part of the future
Insurance fraud is on the rise (where drivers purposely try to cause accidents for insurance payouts). People are looking to dashcams to protect themselves from insurance scams.
A few car insurance providers in the United Kingdom are offering customers a 10 to 15 percent discount if a dashcam is installed in their vehicle. This gives drivers in Canada and the U.S hope that we will be offered the same type of discounts as dashcams catch on.
Dashcams can cost anywhere from $60 for basic models to $150 for the best that include sound, better night vision, or a GPS that tags the location where something was filmed. They consist of a single or double lens camera that mounts on your window or dashboard (using a suction cup). They’re powered through 12-volt wiring to your vehicle, batteries, or the cigarette lighter. Once you start your car, the camera turns on and records video directly to an SD card from the perspective of the driver, overwriting itself as the data storage fills up.
Take a look at some great samples of dashcam footage on Google; “Russian meteor dash cam” or “winter driving dash cam” and prepare your mind to be blown!
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