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Shopping For Dash Cams
Security cameras are not only reserved for residential or commercial properties. Aside from protecting your home or business, you can also keep an eye on your car and driving habits.
Dash cams are small security cameras that are installed on your dashboard. Depending on the type, you can monitor the road ahead, inside your car, or both. While these surveillance devices are not mandatory, their use in your own car can be rather beneficial. Some insurance companies offer discounts, you can gather useful video footage in the event of a car accident (whether involved or as a witness), and it can simply give you peace of mind.
If you’re looking to purchase a dash cam for your vehicle, here are a few things to look for:
- Looping Feature
The looping feature on a dash cam will enable it to automatically record over old video you no longer need. This will help save space while eliminating the need for you to delete the footage manually. - G-Force Sensors
Dash cams with g-force sensors can detect when you’ve been in an accident. This technology will enable the dash cam to record and save the footage recorded at the time instead of looping over it. - Overnight Recording
We may drive at all hours, so a dash cam that can record during nighttime reliably is crucial. Just because a dash cam has infrared or night vision does not necessarily mean that overnight footage is the best quality. Do research, read reviews, and look into the cameras performance in different environments. - Image Quality
With that said, you also want to ensure that your dash cam records in at least 1080p. For a better, wider view, opt for a dash cam that records in 2560×1080. Be sure to evaluate your needs and ensure that the field of view is sufficient for your standards. - Additional Features
You may want to invest in dash cams that have lane departure sensors to help keep you focused on the road, or motion sensors that can sense and record break-ins or vandalism. You may also want to invest in battery backups to ensure your camera doesn’t run out of power.
What other features or functions do you find helpful when it comes to dash cams? Share with us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Pinterest.
For a great selection of quality HD and IP security cameras and surveillance equipment, please visit SecurityCamExpert.com. To discuss your options, schedule a site survey, or request a FREE quote, please call 888-203-6294.
Why You Should Install A Dash Cam
Dash cams are growing in popularity as more and more drivers are finding value in installing them. Whether you install a simple, front-facing dash cam or invest in a more comprehensive monitoring system for your vehicle, there are many ways these devices can benefit you. Here are a few reasons why you may want to consider installing a dash cam in your car.
- Accidents
When accidents occur, drivers recollections can vary. Normally, police would gather reports from those involved in the accident along with any eye witnesses. However, with dash cam footage, you have hard evidence of the incident which can help determine who was at fault and potentially save you from increased insurance rates. In addition, the video footage can possibly expedite your claim by avoiding numerous discussions with insurance companies to determine who was at fault. - Tickets
Your dash cam may save you from a wrongfully issued ticket. Since moving traffic violations typically give you points on your state driving record, which usually result in higher car insurance rates, it may be worth it to install a dash cam. If you feel you were wrongfully stopped, you can supply the officer with your dash cam footage. If the officer refuses to watch it, you can bring it to court to contest your ticket. - Insurance Fraud
Unfortunately, insurance fraud is more common than you would think. If you feel you may have been involved in or witnessed a staged accident, your dash cam footage can be turned into the insurance companies involved or the state insurance fraud unit for investigation. - Improve Driving
If you feel so inclined, you can review your daily driving videos to become a better driver. You can watch your videos to identify driving mistakes and ways to prevent them, such as braking too hard or switching lanes abruptly. - Teenage Drivers
If you have teenage drivers in the family, you can review their driving skills and habits so you can help them avoid accidents or tickets. For these cases, a two-way dash cam can help you see what’s going on both on the road and inside the vehicle. Not only can this help keep your child safe, but a clean driving record can keep your insurance rates low as well. - Security
Some dash cams provide a standby mode which allows the camera to turn on when motion in or around the car is detected. If someone tries to break into your car or hits your parked car, you get video footage to identify what happened and the persons responsible. You can submit this as evidence to the police as well as your insurance company to prove how the damage was done. - Unexpected Events
You’ve seen those viral dash cam videos that capture incredible events like meteors or other celestial events in the sky. While these are interesting and often once in a lifetime occurrences, you can also capture things like a deer running into the road causing an accident or a rockslide that caused damage to your car. In these instances, you can provide your insurance company with evidence to prevent rate hikes.
If you have a dash cam in stalled in your car, how have you benefited from it? What made you decide to install a dash cam? Share your experiences with your peers and us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Pinterest.
Visit SecurityCamExpert.com to browse our selection of security cameras, CCTV surveillance packages and more. You can call 888-203-6294 to schedule a site survey or request a FREE quote today!
How Dash Cams Can Help You
Thanks to their popularity in Russia, we have an abundant supply of dash cam footage, from heart-stopping driving blunders to failed carjackings and more. While these videos often go viral, dash cams serve a much more meaningful purpose.
Because the streets of Russia are often filled with lawless drivers, many have turned to dash cams for their own safety. The use of dash cams is also spreading to the rest of Europe, Australia, and even the US. Many patrol cars are equipped with dash cams that record both the inside of the cabin and the road ahead.
What Are Dash Cams?
Dash cams are relatively small in size and are often mounted onto your windshield via suction cup. They can plug into a 12V power supply within your car, and most have a backup battery to save footage in case power is lost. Video is usually recording on a continuous loop on an SD card; when storage is full, the oldest footage is deleted first to make space for the new recordings.
You get what you pay for when it comes to dash cams. With a higher price tag, you usually get dash cams with built-in GPS, which tracks your speed and location, better night vision resolution, and parking mode.
Dash Cam Benefits
Dash cams were largely adopted by taxis, trucks, bus drivers, and businesses with large fleets. Now, everyday drivers are using them as a way to provide evidence when a collision occurs. Aside from witness accounts, which can be fairly subjective and sometimes inaccurate, dash cams can provide hard evidence.
Despite this, installing a dash cam may not lower your insurance rate, but it can help speed up the process when you are involved in a crash. The footage obtained is admissible in court and can help determine who is at fault. It can also help to prevent insurance fraud, in which drivers deliberately cause accidents to extort money.
Aside for aiding in the case of car accidents, dash cams can also capture parking incidents, road rage, and even help parents feel at ease by monitoring teenage drivers.
If you are considering investing in a dash cam, here are a few things you should look for:
- Automatic loop recording
- Seamless recording – to eliminate gaps in recording
- Heat resistance
- Impact detection
- Powered shutdown and file write – saves footage when you lose power in an accident
- Wide angle lens – provides better coverage
- High resolution – at least 1080HD for license plate capture
- Built-in display screen with removable memory card
- Night Vision
Do you own a dash cam, or are you thinking about it? What benefits are most appealing to you? Share your thoughts and experiences with us on Facebook, Google+, and Twitter. Find us on Pinterest and Vine, too.
For an excellent dash cam, choose our Thinkware FXD700 2CH Full HD Car DVR Blackbox Camera with GPS or browse the rest of our security camera selection online at SecurityCamExpert.com. If you have any questions or need assistance, please call 1-888-203-6294.