Discover the Whats and Hows of Vehicle Dash Cameras
When driving, there will be countless instances of near misses with other vehicles, or if you’re not that lucky, head-on collisions that cause serious injuries or damage. The extent of those injuries and damage will depend on a lot of factors, and also the type of vehicle you drive. For motorcyclists, this is more serious. Having some way to get this recorded can save you from unneeded expenses and hassle if worst comes to worst. Enter dash cams.
What are Dash Cams?
These are cameras that do exactly as they say on the lid- they fit on the vehicle’s dashboard and record in detail everything that happens on the road. A dedicated vehicle cam can prove its worth in minor scuffles, but more so when things get serious. You’ll have everything recorded as it was and this can be used anywhere you need it, for example explaining things to police or insurers.
Why You Need a Dash Cam?
Dash cams can be used for obvious and not so obvious reasons. They record reckless driving by other participants on the road, and also encourage safer driving habits on your part. Some cams also have a suite of safety features that warn you of unintentional lane departure, blind spots, or features missing on many older Aussie cars.
The stored footage can be used by police in instances of multiple car pileups, during major accidents, cases of pent-up road rage, or things out of the ordinary, but nevertheless amusing. And there’s no shortage of that on Aussie roads. The same footage can be used by insurers to assess damage and fault, or to reduce premiums.
All this is when vehicles are in motion. A vehicle cam is also useful with vehicles parked, and if you live in a dodgy suburb, then this protects your ride from theft or plain mischief. Recordings continue even after turning off the engine and can be beamed straight to your phone. You’ll know exactly what’s happening with (and to) your car, truck, bike or ute, no matter where it is.
How Dash Cams Work
Dashboard cameras are powered by the vehicle. These can be cams that are hot-wired directly to the battery, those that get power from the OBDII port or cameras that attach to cigarette sockets or allotted USB ports. Most types have auto-on functionality, meaning they power up once the vehicle is moving or are powered with external battery packs. There are also choices to record non-stop footage with the engine off and the vehicle parked. Garmin for instance, have cabling that powers cams in parked vehicles (with units connected to the cigarette socket), or always-on cabling (via the ODB II port) so the recording is continuous.
The footage is stored on internal storage or more commonly on Micro SD cards in various sizes. Getting a bigger card will mean more functionality with longer recording times. However, recording is done in a loop cycle, and cameras that have reached memory capacity record new footage over the old one. Exceptions are when there is impact, sudden braking, or perilous incidents and these are automatically saved. Users also have the option of manually selecting which bits of recordings remain on the card.
Dash Cam Types
The majority of dashboard cameras are of the front-facing type, and record what happens in front of you. These are also some of the more inexpensive options though don’t lack important features. Besides these, some setups record to the front and rear, those that record footage in the cabin in addition to being forward-facing, and cameras with a three-lens setup that does everything. Cameras will vary in shape and size, so if this is an issue choose what suits you best. There are also dash cams with separate screens that also display GPS coordinates and mapping.
Choosing a Vehicle Camera for Your Purposes
Not all vehicle cameras are equal, but most do a good job for the intended task. Features are what tend to drive prices higher.
Dash Cam Features:
- Video Quality – You want footage that’s clean and discernible. Almost all decent cams record in HD quality in the lowest settings, and go to ultra-crisp 4K output but at 30 frames a second. Important here is the choice of lenses, or more precisely the field of view. Wider (125 to 165 degrees) lenses let you capture more, so any impact to the side of the vehicle will also be well documented.
- Auto Start and Loop Recording – You don’t have to turn cameras constantly on or off. They start recording once the vehicle is in motion. Some dash cams also continue recording when the vehicle is parked. Loop recording means the camera will record new video over older footage on its own when the card is full, without the user having to manually erase it. Opting for bigger cards (currently, the biggest are with 1TB storage space) definitely helps. Just mind the card is compatible with the camera.
- GPS and WiFi- Cams with built-in GPS modules have their benefits. They can record speeds, and pinpoint locations. This can help prove that you weren’t speeding or running a red light. WiFi connectivity lets you transfer data to your phone or computer and helps to get a better picture of what’s happening when the vehicle is parked.
Other features are nice to have but up costs. Inbuilt sensors warn drivers of imminent accidents with audible alerts. Auto firmware update expands functionality without having to spend more on newer or better-specced cams. Then there are cameras with niceties like included mics for audio recording, lens polarisers for better clarity in direct sunlight, as well as mounts compatible with other devices and brands. Choose the dash cam that meets your needs and budget, as most do a fine job.