Dash Cams
Learn more about in-car cameras, their features and how they can benefit you…
Dash cams, or dashboard cameras, are small cameras that can be mounted to the windscreen of a vehicle to record its journey. They use wide angled lenses to record everything in front of the vehicle, with some providing two lenses to record the front and the rear.
Dash Cams can be powered by the 12V (cigarette lighter) power supply, or it can be hardwired by connecting it to your fuse box. Dash cams have become increasingly popular with motorists as they can provide invaluable evidence if they are involved in a road accident.
Many cameras also feature 'Park Mode' which means it will start to record if it detects movement, offering additional peace of mind.
FAQs
Dash cams come in all different shapes and sizes. When buying a dash cam, you should consider if you want a single lens camera that only records the road in front of the vehicle, or a dual lens camera to record both the front and rear of the vehicle.
Front View – Single lens dash cams that only record the road ahead are popular as they are usually inexpensive and simple to use.
Front and Rear View – Dual lens dash cams provide coverage of the road ahead and behind the vehicle. Dual lens dash cams can be more expensive compared to its single lens counterparts, however, it can provide crucial evidence if you happen to be rear ended by another driver.
Dash cams are great for at recording and analysing your driving. In an incident of an accident that wasn't your fault, dash cam footage can help prove your innocence. You can also record undisciplined drivers, road rage, and protect yourself against collisions and damage when your vehicle is parked. Many dash cams feature GPS trackers which help in emergency situations. As such, some insurers reduce premiums for drivers that invest in a dash cam.
Storage – Dash cams use an SD memory card to store the recorded footage. Look for the 'auto-overwrite' or 'loop recording' feature to ensure that all the film is captured. These features mean that once the SD card is full, the newest footage will overwrite the oldest footage. Don't forget to remove the videos you want before it is overwritten.
Auto Start/Stop – A dash cam should automatically start recording when the ignition is turned on or it is plugged into a power supply, and stop recording when the power is turned off. This is what differentiates a dash cam from an ordinary camera.
G-Sensor - As most dash cams record on continuous loops, crucial footage could be lost in an accident if it continues to record. To overcome this, many dash cams are equipped with G-force sensors which monitors the direction and force placed on a vehicle. When a vehicle is involved in a collision the sensors will automatically save the footage and protect it from being overwritten.
Parking Mode – Parking mode is a helpful feature which enables your dash cam to automatically start recording if it senses an impact whilst your vehicle is parked, meaning your vehicle is protected even if you are not in it.
Video Quality – The video quality of a dash cam is an important feature to look for. If the quality is grainy and you are unable to read licence plates, the footage will be useless in accident claims. Some dash cams record in 720p, which is good quality, but for extra clarity, a model that records in 1080p or higher will offer an excellent resolution.
GPS – Dash cams with integrated GPS allow you to track your journey and pinpoint your exact location if you were to be involved in a road traffic collision. It can record your direction, speed, location, date and time, allowing you build a case if you needed to use it as evidence in a claim.