Dash Camera - Analysis and Buying Guide - 2023
Did you know that an officer can demand to view your dash cam recording to help determine which driver was at fault in the event of an accident? Having a dash cam is a good way to ensure that you are on your best and safest behavior when behind the wheel. But to be effective, you need a quality dash cam.
A multi-lens camera at the front combined with a remote camera at the rear will give you the best coverage. It is highly recommended to have an HD camera with great low-light capability and a GPS chip inside. For any parking problem, a motion or impact activated camera is needed.
You can buy one of the options that we have shortlisted as the best option for you. However, if you want a little more information and some tips on the most necessary features for your particular situation, read on.
Dash Cam Types
To find the right type of dash cam for your car, it helps to understand the design options. Different designs work better in different circumstances.
- Multi-lens Jump Cameras
Multi-lens cameras record in front of the car with one lens and inside the car with another. The lenses record at the same time, giving you two points of view.
- Rearview Mirror-mounted Dash Cameras
Some small cams on the dashboard connect to the rear view mirror. If you live in a state where windshield mounts are illegal, a rear view mirror mount is a great alternative.
- Windshield Mounted Cameras
Most dash cams mount to a car's windshield with a suction cup and bracket. However, windshield-mounted cameras can partially block your view of the surrounding area.
- Single Lens Dash Cams
A single-lens dash cam works like a traditional video camera. You mount the single-lens camera to your windshield or mirror, and record the action in front of the vehicle. If you want a single-lens dash cam, choose one with a wide viewing angle.
Dash Cam Features
After you've selected a type of dash cam, consider the features you want. Popular features like HD video and low-light recording make the difference between clear, sharp video and blurry footage.
- Battery Options
Most dash cams plug into a 12-volt outlet in the car. However, some models of dash cams must be connected directly to the car's battery. This ensures that the dash cam has enough power to run at all times.
- GPS
A dash cam with a GPS chip inside it marks the video with the time, date and location of the recording. If you plan to use video to prove innocence in a traffic ticket or accident, you will need time and location stamps.
- HD Video
With dash cam video, you want a high resolution image that is sharp. Otherwise, your dash cam may not show the exact details you need to produce evidence after an accident. Look for a dash cam that offers full 1080p HD video recording capabilities.
- Motion or Impact Detection
If you want to use your dash cam as a security camera inside the car when it's parked, a motion or shock detector is a great feature. The video camera only starts recording when it detects motion or impact. This means you won't have hours of uneventful video to watch when you review the stored footage later.
- Low Light Recording
Some dash cams create poor video recordings at night, which is undesirable. You need a dash cam that can shoot quality video even when it's dark outside.
Do you Need a Dash Cam?
Because dash cams can record audio inside the vehicle and video inside and outside, they have numerous uses. Let's take a look at some of the reasons you might want to document your driving.
- Accident Tests
In an accident, a dash cam provides evidence of exactly what happened. Without video evidence, police and insurance companies must rely on witness statements. Such testimony may not be completely accurate or reliable. Recordings from dashboard cameras can help prove that the accident was not your fault, despite what the other driver says.
- Contest the Tickets
If you get a ticket for a moving violation, especially for an automatic speed camera, you can dispute the ticket with video from your dash cam. Dash cam video may contain evidence that you were speeding, for example.
- Fun
A dash cam doesn't always have to be serious. Maybe you use your camera to create a video of a trip to share on social media. We all see funny things while driving and the dash cam records it all.
- Young Drivers
New teen drivers may have to prove themselves before they get more freedom with a car. A dash cam shows a parent how carefully a teen is driving. And just having a camera in the car will encourage the teen to drive more carefully, even if the parent never looks at it.
- Vandalism Protection
Mount a dash cam with a 360-degree viewing angle in your vehicle to protect yourself from vandalism. If someone damages your vehicle, the footage from your dash cam could help identify the vandal.
FAQ
Que. What should I do if I witness someone else's accident while my dash cam is recording?
Ans. Law enforcement would appreciate having a copy of the dash cam recording to assist in the investigation. This will ensure that the driver who was not at fault is cleared of the accident.
Que. Will I get in trouble with the police if I use a dash cam?
Ans. You can legally videotape public roads using your dashboard camera. However, it is smart to alert a law enforcement officer stopping your vehicle that you have a camera going. Also, some states have laws about how a dash cam can be connected to your car. For example, in some states you cannot drive with a windshield-mounted dash camera.
Que. What is the best way to power my dash cam?
Ans. The easiest and cheapest way to power a dash cam is with an adapter plugged into a 12 volt car socket.
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