A dash cam is a small device that attaches to your windscreen and records the road ahead, complete with audio.
They’re beneficial for recording accidents and other incidents on the road, such as aggressive drivers.
If you’re looking for one, several key features are to look out for. But what does dash cam do? Read on to find out everything about dash cam and what it does.
What is a Dash Cam?
A dash cam is a camera that records video and audio, usually from the front of the car.
It’s designed to be mounted on your vehicle’s dashboard behind the rear-view mirror, though many models can also be used as body-worn cams.
The most common use for a dash cam is to record driving footage as evidence in case of an accident or dispute over liability.
In some states, it’s also legal to use them if you’ve been pulled over by law enforcement—but there are rules about when this can happen.
What Does Dash Cam Do?
A dash cam records everything that happens while driving your car: traffic signs and signals, pedestrians crossing streets, other vehicles, animals crossing roads, weather conditions such as rain or snowfall down storms at night.
All these events will be caught by this device, which then saves them onto its storage media like SD card or internal memory storage space inside itself until we download them manually later on our computers using a USB cable connected between both devices together at home/office desktops located somewhere close enough so one could reach easily without much struggle needed (anywhere within 10 meters radius).
How Do I Use a Dash Cam?
You’ll want to install your dash cam in a place where it’s safe and easy to access. You can attach it with Velcro or use double-sided tape (make sure you get the right kind!).
If you have a windshield mount that uses suction cups, ensure they’re securely attached by testing them on an inconspicuous spot before sticking them anywhere else on your car.
When it comes to powering up, most dash cams will require some permanent connection to the car’s power supply to operate while you drive.
However, some models have built-in batteries, which allow them to record when there isn’t enough juice from the cigarette lighter socket or another port in your vehicle.
Be sure that whatever option you choose allows for easy access if something goes wrong with the wiring at some point down the road—it’s much easier than having someone come out and fix everything for free!
Once installed and connected, setting up your dash cam can be as simple as downloading an app onto your phone (iOS or Android) and following instructions provided within its interface.
Why Do You Want One?
If you’re on the search to find out what a dash cam is and how it can help you, you’ve come to the right place.
Dash cams are devices that record everything happening in front of your car while you drive.
They provide proof of accidents, traffic violations, road rage incidents, hit-and-runs, and much more!
Why would someone need a dash cam? Well, there are many reasons why driving with one will benefit them:
High-resolution Video and Voice Recording
Dash cams record in high resolution, which means you can see everything. This helps in many situations, like when you’re trying to dispute a traffic ticket or file an insurance claim.
A high-quality video will also help police investigations and court cases when evidence needs reviewing.
Even if your dash cam isn’t being used as evidence, it can still be handy just for security purposes—and that’s true even if you don’t have something worth stealing in the backseat!
And with how cheap these cameras are now, what’s not to love about keeping one around?
Records Everything You See and Hear
Dash cameras record everything you see and hear while driving. They can also be used in parking mode, which turns on automatically when the vehicle is parked and not moving.
The following are some of the main features of dash cams:
- HD recording – Records video in high definition (1080p). It also records audio, which is helpful in case of an accident or dispute over who was at fault.
- Night vision – Records at night using infrared LEDs to see even when it’s dark outside.
- Parking mode – Automatically turns on when the car is parked, so you don’t have to worry about turning it on yourself each time you park your car, which saves battery life if your car doesn’t have an automatic shut-off feature for its headlights or taillights.
This feature is handy if someone hits your parked car because it will record what happened before and after the impact occurred, so there won’t be any doubt about whose fault it was—and whether their insurance company should pay for damages!
Helps Protect Your No-claims Bonus
A no-claims bonus is an insurance policy that rewards you for not making claims. It can be worth thousands of pounds, so it’s worth protecting!
A full explanation of what a no-claims bonus is and how to claim yours is outside the scope of this article; however, one thing worth knowing is that you could lose your no-claims bonus if you make a claim or are found to be at fault in an accident.
If a dash cam shows that another vehicle was to blame for any accidents involving your car, it can help prove whether this happened, which could save you hundreds or even thousands of pounds over time by keeping your no-claims bonus safe from harm.
Could Help in a Claim for Third-party Damage
If you’re involved in an accident, your dash cam footage could help prove who’s at fault and help you get compensated for damages.
For example, let’s say someone rear-ends your car. You’re not at fault; the other driver refuses to accept responsibility for their actions.
Insurance companies won’t cover what they should pay out due to a lack of evidence.
With dash cam footage showing exactly what happened—including how fast the other driver was going and how much time passed between hitting the brakes and hitting you—you’ll have plenty of ammunition when it comes time to file a claim with your insurer.
Continuous Loop Recording – Overwrites Oldest Files When It Reaches Capacity
Some dash cams have a feature to select the oldest file to keep. This way, if an important event happens, you can be sure that the continuous loop recording won’t overwrite it.
Some dash cams have a feature that lets you select the most important file to keep.
For example, if someone rear-ended your car in a parking lot and drives away without leaving contact information, this would be an ideal situation for using this feature!
- G-sensor lock – detects an incident, locking the footage to ensure it isn’t overwritten.
- Protects your no-claims bonus
- Helps in a claim for third-party damage (you’re not at fault)
- Proves who is at fault in an accident
- Mounting point – typically with suction or adhesive pads and sometimes with a cradle.
The best part about mounting options is that they allow you to place your camera in such a way that it doesn’t obstruct any driving visibility or distract from other important gauges/controls in front of you.
It’s also nice because it opens up more possibilities for where else you could use one (like attaching it to an ATV or motorcycle).
A Dash Cam Can Be Helpful if You Are in an Accident or Need to Prove Who is at Fault in an Accident
Dash cams can be helpful if you are in an accident or need to prove who is at fault in an accident.
The camera records everything that happens from the front of your car, so it can be used to prove how far away you were from the car in front of you, how fast you were going, and what happened before and after the incident.
Conclusion
You may not need a dash cam until you do. Then, you will be happy you have them.
We recommend getting one if you can and having it installed by a professional to ensure it is done right.
If you have been asking, what does dash cam do? I am sure you have been convinced by the benefits and the things it can help you achieve.
