Jump to:
- Why every Indian vehicle should have a dash cam
- Dash cam and its importance
- Necessary dash cam features
- My dash cam recommendations
- How to install a dash cam
Before we begin, check out this video below:
It is quite clear that the crash occurred because the scooter did not stop in time. However, notice the scooter rider’s immediate reaction. As soon as he hit the white car in front, the scooter’s rider looked back and started blaming the car behind him.
Luckily, the car driver who recorded the video could easily show the footage and get out of this whole mess.
But, what if the car’s driver didn’t have this video footage?
Why Every Indian Vehicle Should have a Dash Cam
Without the video footage, the car’s driver could have been in big trouble in the above crash.
The scooter rider and the white car’s occupants were ready to blame the car’s driver. Passers-by would have also joined them.
Eventually, the police would get involved. Finally, without any fault of her own, the rear car’s driver would have had to pay a compensation amount to the motorcycle rider, the white car’s driver, and the police(!) as a “settlement”. The car driver’s only fault was that she was in a car…
You may or may not have heard about it, but there is a bias in India against the “bigger vehicle”. In a crash between two vehicles, the blame is almost always placed on the vehicle that is bigger in size. In a collision between a truck and a car, it is always the truck driver’s “fault”. But if the same car collides with an autorickshaw or a two-wheeler, the car’s driver will be blamed. Even two-wheeler riders are not spared if they collide with a bicycle or pedestrian.
If you have the biggest vehicle in a crash, you take all the blame.
Having investigated hundreds of crashes, I have seen this bias play out many times. If blaming the bigger vehicle’s driver wasn’t enough, mobs may also beat the driver. Unfortunately, things don’t get better even if the police get involved. No matter which vehicle’s error led to the crash, an FIR is usually filed against the bigger vehicle’s driver. I have come across many crashes in which the bigger vehicle’s driver has been taken into custody just because the smaller vehicle’s driver filed a case against him. The police don’t even hear the side of the bigger vehicle’s driver! The bigger vehicle’s driver has to go through a painful process that either involves multiple court visits or a hefty “settlement” amount.
Thankfully, you can save yourself from the “bigger vehicle bias” by installing a simple device: A Dashboard Camera or a “Dash Cam“.
What is a Dash Cam? What are its benefits?
As the name implies, a Dash Cam is a camera that is mounted on or above the dashboard of your vehicle. The setup looks something like this:
The dash cam records everything in its view as the vehicle travels. Though the device may seem pretty straightforward, it has many benefits.
A Dash Cam collects important video evidence
As you may have guessed, the video that we saw at the beginning was recorded by a dash cam. Without the video evidence, the car’s driver could have been in a lot of trouble.
This is the biggest advantage of a dash cam. The video recorded by the dash cam is the evidence you need to prove your innocence. This evidence is also useful if you are a victim of a road rage incident or an insurance fraud!
Helps you fight against wrong allegations
Sometimes even the Traffic Police may catch and wrongfully fine you for breaking a traffic rule. If you are not at fault, you can easily show the Police officer the video footage from the dash cam to prove your innocence.
Helps you become a better driver
All of us think that we are good drivers. However, what separates the best drivers from the rest is their willingness to improve. You can use a dash cam’s video footage to study and improve upon the mistakes you unknowingly make while driving. Otherwise, the same mistake can lead to a crash the next time.
Another advantage of the dash cam is that it will enforce discipline in your own driving. You are much less likely to break traffic rules if you know there is a camera that is always recording what you do.
Check the driving of your loved ones
If your child or spouse is new to driving and you are not there to observe it, you can use the dash cam footage to check how they drive. Nowadays you also get dash cams that give a live recording straight to your phone.
Provides security when the vehicle is parked
If you park somewhere at an unsafe location, you can leave the dash cam on to record any wrongdoing. Some dash cams have a feature called “Parking Mode” that gets activated if there is a sudden jerk to the vehicle, such as a parking crash or someone trying to forcefully open the door. An extremely handy feature!
Has additional features beyond recording
Most dash cams provide features beyond just video recording such as GPS tracking and displaying vehicle speed. Some dash cams also give advanced features such as voice commands, night vision, forward collision warning, crash alerts, driver sleep alerts, and so on.
Helps you record rare moments
Indian roads are full of surprises. You may never know what may happen and may come across some memorable incident that is worth recording. A dash cam can help you capture such memorable instances.
Dash cams have plenty of benefits. If you are convinced that you should get a dash cam, let us look at some must-have features.
Dash Cam Features to look for
Dash cams come in all sizes and features. Here are some features that you should consider:
Basic features:
Video quality
A dash cam is only as good as the quality of video it records. A good video quality includes:
Video resolution
Higher the resolution, the better the video quality. Go for a dash cam that records at a minimum of 1080p.
High frame-rate
A higher frame rate or frames per second (fps) captures more detailed images and videos such as number plates and even faces. Choose a dash cam with at least a 60 fps frame rate.
Wide-angle view
A dash cam that captures a wide-angle video will cover most of the road and some roadside areas. This is useful if a vehicle suddenly jumps in your lane from the side.
Low-light video capture
Most traffic incidences occur at night. Always get a dash cam with a good low-light or night mode. HDR dash cams provide better night time vision.
Good build quality
A dash cam should have a reliable camera lens, cable, and mounting. In hot and humid conditions, dash cams with poor mounting tend to get unstuck from the windshield and fall down easily. Try to get a dash cam with adhesive tapes for mounting. Suction cups are not reliable. An alternative option is to use a good tape with primer for attaching the dash cam.
Also, a good-quality dash cam will not switch off unexpectedly. This is a problem seen commonly in cheaper cams.
Battery type
Capacitors and Lithium-ion (Li-ion) are the two major types of batteries available in dash cams. Dash cams with capacitors are recommended as they are more resistant to hot and cold weather, and last longer. Definitely worth the premium.
Built-in display
Although some dash cams send the footage directly to your phone, it is always better to have a dash cam with a screen that you can use to check out options such as reviewing the footage, changing the settings, changing modes, and so on.
Loop recording
As dash cams use a lot of storage space to capture video, it is always better to have a dash cam that rewrites over older data. Otherwise, you will have to format the memory card every time.
Additional features that can be considered.
Dual or triple camera dash cams.
Recording what is going on in the front is always necessary. But, sometimes you also need to record what is behind the car or inside the car. Dual cameras may come in handy for such scenarios. You can also consider a triple-camera system if want to record in front, behind, and inside the car
Parking mode
Parking mode is a feature that allows the dash cam to record even when the vehicle is turned off. The dash cam is designed to be energy-efficient during this time and will automatically start recording if there is a sudden jerk. This feature is extremely handy if you park in an unsafe place.
Easy connectivity to other devices
You will find many dash cams that provide connectivity to your phone via Wifi/Bluetooth/4G. A much needed feature if you wish to check the footage remotely.
Driver Assistance
Believe it or not, some dash cams have advanced safety features such as Forward Collision Warning, Driver Sleep Alert, or Lane Departure Warning. Such dash cams tend to be a bit more expensive. But, you never know when such features may come in handy.
Journey Tracker
If you wish to track things such as your trip distance, average speed, resting times, traffic time, etc., you can consider a dash cam with journey trackers.
Dash Cam Recommendations
There are multiple dash cam options in the market. You can narrow down the dash cams depending on the features that you require. However, never compromise on the video quality and the dash cam’s build.
I have professionally used dash cams for many years. Based on my experience, I would like to recommend the following models:
- DDPAI Mini: a good budget cam if you are Ok with no built-in display and average video quality. Go with the one having a capacitor.
- 70MAI Pro Plus: An advanced version of the 70MAI Smart. Loaded with features.
- Viofo A119 V3: My personal recommendation for your first dash cam. A dash cam that you can fix and forget. Highly reliable.
- Viofo A129 Pro Duo: An excellent dual-camera dash cam that comes with the same reliability as the A119.
High Endurance Memory cards: Critical to all dash cams
A dash cam records video continuously and stores it on a memory card. With all that data transfer a standard memory card will get burned quickly. That is why you need a memory card that is designed to handle continuous file transfer such as an endurance memory card. My recommendations are the Transcend Endurance, SanDisk High Endurance, and Samsung PRO Endurance MicroSD.
Installing a Dash Cam
Once you have chosen a dash cam, the next part is the installation.
Dash cams can be installed in two ways:
- You can connect the dash cam directly to the car’s 12V socket. The only downside is that your car’s 12V socket will always be occupied.
- If you want your car’s 12V socket to be free, you can also hardwire the dash cam to the car’s circuit through the fuse box. However, I would recommend that you get a trained technician to do this. An improperly connected dash cam wire can become a fire hazard. Another risk is that some insurance companies may deny claims for electronic failures if a dash cam is hardwired into the electronic system.
- A third option is to either buy a USB-powered dash cam or get a USB power cable for the existing dash cam. Just ensure that the ampere current rating matches between the cable and dash cam.
Another point to consider is the dash cam’s cable. As the dash cam is attached to the windshield, the wire of the power cable usually dangles above the dashboard. This may irritate you while driving. To get over this issue, you can direct the wire along the windshield header, A-pillar, and underneath the dashboard.
You are all set to record your journey!
A dash cam is not a device that will contribute directly to your safety like the airbag or the ABS. However, I consider dash cams to be one of the road safety essential devices. In addition to providing security, dash cams also help you improve your driving and keep you disciplined as a driver.
Dash cams are extremely useful in a country like India where things can go wrong at any moment. You never know when you may need video evidence to prove your innocence. However, always ensure that the dash cam shows the correct date and time. Otherwise, the video cannot be considered evidence!
Considering all the potential benefits they can offer, dash cams are one of the best accessories you can get for your car. A true value-for-money buy for all Indian car owners.
Last Updated on June 9, 2023 by RSG