dashcams

[Blown2CV]

Not quite so common in this country yet, but an affordable deal in maplin's weekly email got me thinking about one. I do reasonable miles, but a lot of it is in long motorway journeys so i'm exposed to a lot of tools. I've had maybe 4 collisions over the last few years (I know, sounds bad, but stay with me) and they've either been non-fault or more importantly, two of them were definitely morally 50/50 but with no witnesses. I am imagining that in those cases, a dashcam would be invaluable evidence.

Basically, what things do i need to consider, what products are best etc?

this is in GG because it's as much about the concept of a dashcam than it is about the gadgety nature of it.

[chopper602]

Take a look at the YouTube channel of 'techmoan'. He's reviewed loads of kit in real world use. Personally I have a cheap dashcam, on with ignition, then off when ignition off.

[williredale]

Long thread running here:

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[V400TC]

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...


about covers most stuff

this was my recent near miss
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XmmXN7xbRpk&fea...

yesterday a car in front decides to take a right suddenly,I slow BMW driving to close to me slows very quickly weaving a tad ( I was looking in mirror) car behind BMW rear ends him both not watching and driving to close, luckily I was not shunted into.

so a front and rear facing set up would be more ideal.

Edited by V400TC on Saturday 23 November 10:11

[Spanna]

chopper602 said:

Take a look at the YouTube channel of 'techmoan'. He's reviewed loads of kit in real world use. Personally I have a cheap dashcam, on with ignition, then off when ignition off.

Definitely the best type to get. A small bullet cam with a wide lense can quite easily be put out of sight behind the rear view mirror and gives a good view out of the car. This sort of camera will usually write over the oldest data on the memory automatically, so you can simply leave it in place and forget about it until you need to use the footage.

An action cam, like a GoPro, whilst brilliant for excellent quality footage is way overkill for your uses. I use a Drift when on my bike, easily mountable in many places.

[johnS2000]

I was in a similar position and did what has already been advised above .

I got a Mini dvr 0801 with built in memory+GPS and a micro sd card for slightly less than £100 and it's perfect !!!

Cannot see it if you put it behind the mirror it's so tiny .

[All that jazz]

Blown2CV said:

Not quite so common in this country yet, but an affordable deal in maplin's weekly email got me thinking about one. I do reasonable miles, but a lot of it is in long motorway journeys so i'm exposed to a lot of tools. I've had maybe 4 collisions over the last few years (I know, sounds bad, but stay with me) and they've either been non-fault or more importantly, two of them were definitely morally 50/50 but with no witnesses. I am imagining that in those cases, a dashcam would be invaluable evidence.

Basically, what things do i need to consider, what products are best etc?

this is in GG because it's as much about the concept of a dashcam than it is about the gadgety nature of it.

You post here often enough to be aware of the long running thread here :

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[Blown2CV]

i wasn't aware of it no. I searched for dashcam not dash cam, so didn't find it. Thanks to everyone all the same!

[dombooth]

V400TC said:

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...


about covers most stuff

this was my recent near miss
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XmmXN7xbRpk&fea...

yesterday a car in front decides to take a right suddenly,I slow BMW driving to close to me slows very quickly weaving a tad ( I was looking in mirror) car behind BMW rear ends him both not watching and driving to close, luckily I was not shunted into.

so a front and rear facing set up would be more ideal.

Edited by V400TC on Saturday 23 November 10:11

I do hope you reported the driver!! I reported one a few weeks ago for running a red light and he's been sacked.

Dom

[Ozzie Osmond]

Wonder how many people will find themselves prosecuted on the basis of evidence from their own dashcam?

Be careful what you wish for.

[jimbop1]

Blown2CV said:

Not quite so common in this country yet, but an affordable deal in maplin's weekly email got me thinking about one. I do reasonable miles, but a lot of it is in long motorway journeys so i'm exposed to a lot of tools. I've had maybe 4 collisions over the last few years (I know, sounds bad, but stay with me) and they've either been non-fault or more importantly, two of them were definitely morally 50/50 but with no witnesses. I am imagining that in those cases, a dashcam would be invaluable evidence.

Basically, what things do i need to consider, what products are best etc?

this is in GG because it's as much about the concept of a dashcam than it is about the gadgety nature of it.

4 collisions? I think you should have one as you seem to have trouble driving.

[GC8]

Only the naive.

[Blown2CV]

jimbop1 said:

Blown2CV said:

Not quite so common in this country yet, but an affordable deal in maplin's weekly email got me thinking about one. I do reasonable miles, but a lot of it is in long motorway journeys so i'm exposed to a lot of tools. I've had maybe 4 collisions over the last few years (I know, sounds bad, but stay with me) and they've either been non-fault or more importantly, two of them were definitely morally 50/50 but with no witnesses. I am imagining that in those cases, a dashcam would be invaluable evidence.

Basically, what things do i need to consider, what products are best etc?

this is in GG because it's as much about the concept of a dashcam than it is about the gadgety nature of it.

4 collisions? I think you should have one as you seem to have trouble driving.

i won't rise to what you've written. I have explained that two of those were people driving into me and i was not at all at fault. 2 of those were debatable, and a camera would have helped as the other parties were doing something pretty fking stupid.

[GC8]

I think that after four instances, you do need to address your driving, as well as getting a dashcam.

[Blown2CV]

this has occurred to me on the two instances of 50/50, however I can't really fking control people crashing into me and a number of other people at the same time, as happened on the other two occasions. You could probably have avoided it though, maybe by levitating because you're clearly fking stirling moss crossed with derren brown. Well done you. Anyway, i'd say back on topic, but as i've been passed a link to the other thread, I'll just go discuss dashcams there instead.

[GC8]

I believe that you have to take responsibility for the situations that you find yourself in. Theres very little that you cant avoid. I have an HGV licence and I have had had weeks driving large vehicles where Ive managed to save someones (a car-only driver, always) life on every day! In a similar vein, I have avoided many, many accidents in cars which wouldnt have been my fault.

[GC8]

http://www.techmoan.com/blog/2013/8/31/the-mini-08...

This camera meets your requirements, as described on the other thread.

[Fox-]

Blown2CV said:

this has occurred to me on the two instances of 50/50, however I can't really fking control people crashing into me

Actually you probably could - I remember reading a statistic somewhere, I think it was from the IAM, that a large proportion of non-fault accidents could have been avoided had the innocent party been paying more attention/knew what to look for/was using anticipatory skills etc.

[Blown2CV]

Fox- said:

Blown2CV said:

this has occurred to me on the two instances of 50/50, however I can't really fking control people crashing into me

Actually you probably could - I remember reading a statistic somewhere, I think it was from the IAM, that a large proportion of non-fault accidents could have been avoided had the innocent party been paying more attention/knew what to look for/was using anticipatory skills etc.

not in all cases, and you don't know the details. If you're stopped at a red light with cars in front and behind, and a van swerves at speed towards you, with the driver citing that his foot slipped off the brake and onto the accelerator, how would you avoid that?

[GC8]

Im sure that you couldnt, but there are many accidents which can be avoided.