What Exactly Is a Dash Camera? Fleet-Eye
Dashboard cameras, dash cameras, or Dashcams are all terms for the same thing. They are the same thing no matter what you call them. They are cameras that sit on your dashboard or hang from your windshield and record your movements as you drive.
This technology has been in use for well over a decade, but it is becoming increasingly popular among businesses and individual drivers alike.
Many businesses, workers, and drivers opt to use these for their own safety in the event of an accident or other incident on the road. Dashcams are frequently used to deter theft, resolve insurance issues, and even fight traffic tickets. Isn't that fantastic? So, how do they function?
How Do Dash Cameras Operate?
Dashcams are connected to your vehicle via a USB port or a cigarette plug. When you start your car, you activate that electrical output, which then activates your camera.
To store the recording, the camera will have a memory card input, most likely an SD card or a micro SD card. You'll then mount it to your dashboard or windshield and point your camera into the car or ahead of you to monitor what's going on in front of your vehicle.
When the SD card is full, the system will begin erasing the oldest footage on it. Depending on the amount of memory, this could be after 8 hours, up to 48 hours, or even longer.
Most modern dashcams have WiFi capability, allowing you to connect to an app on your smartphone and view your recent footage. Many older models will lack this feature. When paired with your phone, it will allow you to view all recent footage as well as footage that has been deleted from the memory card.
If you find yourself in a noteworthy situation, all you have to do is save your recent footage on your SD card and/or smartphone app to access the incident's recording.
What Is the Price of a Dash Camera?
Dashcams have been around for a while, and the technology has advanced significantly. A personal camera with decent quality and memory should cost no more than $30 to $40 when purchased online or in a store.
However, if you want to use several dash cameras for a fleet of vehicles, you should look into fleet-eye, as prices vary greatly between companies.
If you want a high-quality camera or audio recording, you should be prepared to pay a little more. However, in most insurance-related cases, a standard dash camera will suffice.
Is a Dash Cam Harmful to My Car's Battery?
This is a frequently asked question about dashcams, so let's address it. No, running a dashcam has no effect on your car battery. In fact, charging your phone does not. That is, if you are driving.
Yes, if your car is turned on but the engine isn't running, your dashcam will help drain your car battery faster, as will playing music or charging other equipment. When the engine is running, the fuel is converted into electricity, which is how your equipment is charged.
The only other situation in which it would be harmful to your battery is if you drive an electric vehicle. When compared to moving a vehicle, however, a camera consumes insignificant amounts of electricity. In most cases, it will be less than the cost of charging your phone.
What Is the Use of a Dash Cam?
While anyone can benefit from the added security, some people require dashcams more than others. Those who rely on ground transportation will undoubtedly benefit the most, as they spend the most time on the road. Here are some examples:
Rideshare Drivers
Rideshare drivers are ranked first on this list because they are in the unusual position of requiring two dash cams. Drivers for Uber/Lyft and other similar companies (as well as taxi drivers) spend a significant amount of time driving in a city, surrounded by unpredictable drivers, pedestrians, and strangers.
Any of them could make a false claim, misinterpret a situation, or try to extort money from these drivers. When you drive in a city for 30 to 40 hours per week, your chances are much higher than most. As a result, it is critical for drivers to have a dashcam pointed toward the road in order to have evidence of how an incident occurred.
In addition, rideshare drivers earn a living by transporting strangers in their personal vehicles. If 99.9 percent of your riders were stellar after a thousand rides, it only takes one to cause you serious harm, whether to your body, property, or otherwise.
As a result, having dashcams pointing into the car is a good idea for drivers. This will serve as a deterrent to potential thieves or criminals, as well as evidence in the event that something goes wrong. Because you never know who you'll be picking up or how another driver will act on the road, this is a simple way to provide some peace of mind during your rides.
Despite the fact that you may have seen dashcam footage of Uber/Lyft rides on YouTube, both companies have strict policies prohibiting the uploading of videos from their rides. Furthermore, different states have different laws regarding dashcams, with many requiring passenger consent.
However, in most cases, a sticker on the window informing passengers about the camera is sufficient to imply the passenger's consent as they enter the vehicle.
Drivers of Delivery Vehicles
We use the term “delivery drivers” in its broadest sense. A dashcam should be used by anyone who works in the transportation of goods, including truck drivers, food delivery workers, and logistics workers.
If you get into an accident, get stuck in a dangerous situation, or someone else damages your Vehicle Safety Systems, you will have evidence to support your innocence as long as the camera is rolling.
If you drive for a living, you spend much more time on the road than the average driver. That means you are far more likely to witness or be involved in a traffic accident. Having that extra layer of security will provide you with long-term peace of mind.
Services for Emergencies
Dashcams are standard equipment in most police vehicles, and for good reason. They aid in the resolution of crimes, provide evidence for trials, and even hold police accountable.
An ambulance and a firetruck, for example, can both benefit from the same technology. Emergency vehicles are frequently hampered in their ability to assist the community, not to mention endangered, by aggressive or careless drivers on the road.
These individuals actively choose to obstruct, cut off, or otherwise impede emergency vehicles from arriving at critical scenes, and they must be held accountable for their actions. If more people are ticketed for failing to yield to emergency vehicles, they may reconsider. Capturing their actions (and licence plates) on camera is an excellent way to accomplish this.
For a small investment, this simple addition could help gather evidence on the scene, improve logistical challenges, and much more.
Each and Every Other Driver
While not everyone requires a dashcam as much as those mentioned above, the truth is that every driver can benefit from using one. Installing a dashcam is a good place to start if you want to learn how to drive safely.
Accidents can happen to anyone, and having evidence to back up your claim could save you thousands of dollars on your insurance policy, keep your driving record clean, and more.
With video evidence, you can more effectively fight driving charges, prevent theft, and keep your insurance rates low in the event of an accident. Dashcams are worthwhile for their low cost and ease of installation.
The Advantages of a Dashcam
Whether you drive for a living or just drive five minutes to work, having a dash cam has advantages for all drivers. Here are a few examples:
Simple to Use
In almost all cases, you can simply set it and forget it. When you insert a memory card into the dashcam and pair it with the paired app on your phone (or whatever), the camera will start recording as soon as you start your car.
Cameras don't typically consume a lot of energy, and they won't consume any more fuel than charging your phone, so the difference is unlikely to be noticeable. If an incident occurs, simply save the existing footage on your memory card and you will have it forever.
Most have simple, interactive smartphone apps that show you how to set it up. However, once it is up and running, you won't have to think about it again until something happens.
Cost-Effective
Dashcams are very inexpensive to operate and have a low initial purchase cost. It's a small price to pay for such a high ROI for the amount of benefit they provide and the potential money they can save you down the road.
Insurance Savings
Many insurance companies will give you a discount on your premiums or deductibles simply for reporting that you have a dashcam in your vehicle. For a company with multiple vehicles, this can add up to significant savings.
Mind Relaxation
Finally, the most significant advantage is that you can protect your entire fleet on the road for such a low cost. When you aren't present to witness every detail of everyone's day, you simply don't know how to improve logistical issues, let alone how to handle a vehicle incident.
With dashcams installed in every vehicle in your fleet, you will be able to hold your employees accountable while also ensuring that you have the necessary protection.
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