Here is an example that happened to one of my clients.
He was looking for an address from his delivery document produced from his POS software when a driver in the opposite lane turned and drove into him, and they knocked. He was not hurt, he stopped, but the other car kept going. Because he had a Dash Camara systems (DashCAM), he did get a picture of the other vehicle, the driver and a clear shot of the licence plate. He sent these details to his insurance company.
This is not untypical so many people have been thinking of installing these dashcams, so I got asked about them a few days ago. Now since several of my clients have already installed these and since I am interested in getting one, I have been talking to them about it. So I got a lot of interest when I told them what I had been told and found.
Here are some observations that I think will be useful, if you want to get one.
Reliability issues
One of my clients reported a lot of problems with his unit. It said it was recording, he had checked at first, and it was recording, but then he discovered after a few months that it had stopped recording, even though the red light when it was supposed to be working was flashing. These units need to be checked regularly that they are recording.
From my experience with GPS, you need a solid one that can take the weather. Over the next few years, most cars will be cooked and frozen by the weather. If the DashCAM cannot take this, it will not be much use.
Installation
An adhesive and vacuum seals, just do not work over a few years, you need it professionally installed.
Battery
If I take it to the airport, park the car in a long-term car park, it can be a week before I will pick it up. The DashCam has to work during that week while the car is turned off.
Camera
How good a picture does it take in the daytime and at night time?
Normal driving is between 40 to 120 km in Australia if the other side is moving at a similar speed going in a different direction you are doubling the effective speed. Now can it take a shot of this speed of their licence plate so it can be read?
How quickly does the camera spring into action? Two cars are going different directions the effect speed could be 180 km, in one second the other vehicle will be 50 metres away. Again will the shot show the licence plate clearly?
Can it handle parking where the range is zero to say 3 metres?
If something comes up, you sometimes need to take a picture quickly on your command. Can it do this?
If it is going to record in the dashcam, it needs loop recording.
Functions
Motion detection means here something the camera can see, gravity sensing, is something the camera can feel and what you need is both.
Noisy
I want to hear it if the camera is working but not any other time.
Clock
I would like my mobile or the car which is connected to the internet to set the clock; otherwise, I am sure the time will drift beside I do not like changing clocks come daylight savings.
Notification
If an accident happens while parked, I would like notification.
Final note
Like always, this list is probably too big and adjustments will have to be made but this will give you a feel for what you should be looking for.
