Staying Fit
Michael Parkin
Social media is filled with viral videos of shocking road mishaps, amazing bolts of lightning, approaching tornadoes — all captured at just the right moment through the windshield of a car. Which begs the question: How did they film that?
The videographers probably weren’t holding a phone while they drove. An increasing number of people are installing a dashcam — a camera mounted inside the car that regularly makes video recordings.
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Next question: Why? Many users get them just for fun, to capture what they see while they drive. But it turns out dashcams also have a practical use. And a case can be made for these devices whether you are at the wheel or when the vehicle is parked.
Peace of mind for your car
If you live in a high-traffic area, a dashcam could prove to law enforcement or an insurance company that you weren’t at fault in an accident. Indeed, if you’ve been in a severe collision, the victim of a hit and run, or even a minor fender bender, this may be the only “eyewitness” you have, says Jeff Chuh, vice president of marketing for North America at dashcam-maker Nextbase. And if you are pulled over during a traffic stop, you can grab video — and audio — of the episode. “It reduces the risk of ‘he-said, she-said’ incidents,” he says.
Dashcams that turn on when activated by motion sensors can also help when a car is left unattended. If your parked auto is sideswiped, for example, a dashcam might capture video footage that reveals the license plate of the offending vehicle. It also may be able to identify a vandal or would-be thief.
Dashcam costs are all over the road
Some popular dashcam brands include BlackVue, Garmin, Mio, Nexar, Nextbase and Rexing. Models can cost under $100 or up to several hundred dollars. Amazon-owned Ring, the company that popularized doorbell cameras, also recently joined the market, with its Ring Car Cam ($250).
Among Ring Car Cam’s features is one built specifically for a traffic stop. A user can say, “Alexa record” and it will start capturing a clip, says Ring Chief Product Officer Jason Mitura.
Across the board, you’ll find a wide gulf in terms of prices and features. Sub-$100 models may be good for your budget but not function as well on the road, especially if you’re hoping to make out a license plate captured at night. But not everyone needs all the bells and whistles in a model that costs well north of $400.
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