Dash Cams

[SS MAYFLOAT]

I'm thinking about putting a dash cam in my service van. Most of my driving is in town and I witness lots of crazy stuff. Things from people driving wrecklessly to having accidents. Today I was driving west on US 30. A car in front of me and we were doing 55. I was getting ready to exit when a kid in a green late late model Camaro went flying past us in the passing lane. I didn't think anything about it until he cut in front of the car ahead of me which was halfway past the exit ramp. He went across the gore (the hash marks) into the exit lane right in front of me. At the end of the exit is a sharp 90 degree curve to the right. As he went around the curve, it reminded me of a super modified race car dirt tracking around the curve. Mind you, the pavement was wet as it was raining. He came to the stop sign and did not slow down. The thing is with his fast driving, it did not get him to where he was going any faster due to the traffic. I ended up behind him at every light even with his fast driving from light to light. Left of center half the time, saw him texting as well. This is why I think a dash cam would help the local LEO's.

My question is, "Does anyone here have any experience with these type cameras?" Being truthful, I don't know squat about them, so I could use some ideas. Thanks........SS

 

[bitterboater]

Re: Dash Cams

Many tractor trailers have them now. The reason is for insurance purposes. They operate similarly to those mounted in squad cars. Recording what the driver sees. They are available to just about anybody I would think.

 

[CaptainKickback]

Re: Dash Cams

Might put one one my boat. I see crazy things on the water all the time.

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Dash Cams

The company I work for just installed them fleet wide. They are from a company called SmartDrive. They are always on, and have a 30 second buffer. So, when an event triggers it, they save 15 seconds before and 15 seconds after the event. I was told that the buffer could be longer, if the customer wanted it. Events are triggers by G-Force, or by a manual button on the camera. The captured video is then uploaded via cell signal to SmartDrive. They review the videos and rate them on anything that we do wrong. There is the forward mounted camera and one pointing at the driver, so you can see what the driver was doing during the incident. Not sure if it would work for you, and I heard they were PRICEY, but it is a good tool to help our liability, in a disputed liability situation.

 

[Redneck_Randy]

Re: Dash Cams

Look into GoPro. They are the camera that all the Indy Car and NASCAR people use.

http://gopro.com/

 

[halfmoa]

Re: Dash Cams

+1 on the GoPro -4 on their price...

Our squad car cameras record the entire time the vehicle is running but only remember 30 seconds of video. When you hit the lights it starts recording 30 seconds ago and continues until you tell it to stop. I know our units are both expensive and kind of a hassle to constantly change the hard drive on but maybe you can find something comparable.

It's pretty awesome to start recording 30 seconds ago...

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: Dash Cams

Thanks...Going to check their website. I have been talking to my boss about it. He thinks it would be a good idea to put them in all the company vehicles.

One of our stores is going through a major remodel. The construction company brought in a brand new skid loader only to be stolen that night. Due to the drive thru's being temporaily moved, the stores security cameras were disabled.

 

[zopperman]

Re: Dash Cams

working in EMS, I've seen A LOT of these in ambulances for insurance purposes... that way they can deem who is at fault..

Every day I drive I wish I was a cop... I see so many infractions and people just get away with it and continue to be jerks..

 

[Don S]

Re: Dash Cams

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Dash Cams

I think you are overreacting Don. The stated purpose of the original poster and the others on here are for self protection of assests, not the government spying on us.

 

[dolluper]

Re: Dash Cams

taxis use them here mounted on rear view mirror hard wired

 

[dingbat]

Re: Dash Cams

I think you are overreacting Don. The stated purpose of the original poster and the others on here are for self protection of assests, not the government spying on us.

I see it as paranoia or meddling. 99% of the business of 99% of other people has nothing to do with us whatsoever. Why do we feel the need to film everyone?s interaction with us? Why do we feel it's our place to monitor other peoples actions to "Help the local LEO's".

Whether it is the government or a private party, videotaping is an infringement upon a person?s right to privacy. If your so worried about your assests, take the money you spent on the camara and buy a good insurance policy.

 

[jeeperman]

Re: Dash Cams

you might be able to get by cheaply with something like this:
http://www.amazon.com/SVAT-CVP800-Portable-Recorder-Compression/dp/B000GIUH9A

Continuous loop recording video cam.

 

[Redneck_Randy]

Re: Dash Cams

I see it as paranoia or meddling. 99% of the business of 99% of other people has nothing to do with us whatsoever. Why do we feel the need to film everyone?s interaction with us? Why do we feel it's our place to monitor other peoples actions to "Help the local LEO's".

Whether it is the government or a private party, videotaping is an infringement upon a person?s right to privacy. If your so worried about your assests, take the money you spent on the camara and buy a good insurance policy.

Because people are to damn dishonest these days and lie way to much. Video does NOT lie. Is that a good enough reason for you...

 

[mommicked]

Re: Dash Cams

What would become of the video if it showed the driver w the camera was actually at fault?

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Dash Cams

Because people are to damn dishonest these days and lie way to much. Video does NOT lie. Is that a good enough reason for you...

Exactly.
Dingbat, I have good insurance, but that doesn't protect me when someone LIES about an accident. Recording them, and prosecuting of few more liars might save us all money in the end. If you think people lying about accidents don't cost all of us money, then you have your head in the sand. Insurance fraud is real, it happens everyday and these cameras are a worthwhile deterrent to that type of illegal and dishonset behavior.

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Dash Cams

What would become of the video if it showed the driver w the camera was actually at fault?

It would be incorporated into the evidence or the report. It's a fact, it exists. It should back up what both party's statements and the police's investigation show. Win Win.

 

[halfmoa]

Re: Dash Cams

It would be incorporated into the evidence or the report. It's a fact, it exists. It should back up what both party's statements and the police's investigation show. Win Win.

I believe mommicked is inferring that it would be "misplaced" and I'd have to agree. I'm sure there's tapes our departments wished didn't exist...

 

[CheapboatKev]

Re: Dash Cams

It is not a permanent solution, however my droid can record for 30 minutes.
The problem is you have to have it on before something happens, which as we all know can be in 1/1000 of a second.
Here I am in SC with my police scanner app running on my droid as I recorded the scene.


[video]http://s234.photobucket.com/albums/ee38/kuhlin/?action=view&current=SCHP.mp4[/video]

 

[rivermouse]

Re: Dash Cams

I know from experience that any time there is an accident the lawyers from each side get paid to demerit each case. A video is a hard thing to ignore