We love our cameras right now, from dash cams, CCTV, head cams and the body worn camera – recording in real time is somewhat of a necessity these days. For more information, visit http://www.pinnacleresponse.com/body-cameras-and-the-law/. Do they actually work though? A dash cam is a device designed to record everything that occurs when you drive. They are a single or double lens camera mounted via a suction cup to your dashboard or window. As soon as you turn the ignition, the video starts recording. Some feature sound, night vision and even GPS.
The good thing about dash cams is that they record the incidents that would usually have been down to you ‘version of events’. Have you ever wondered why there are so many clips on YouTube of bad driving in Russia? Dash cams are very popular here due to the prevalence of insurance fraud. In the UK, a few car insurance firms have started offering a 10-15% discount on your premium if you have a dash cam.
Footage from the cameras may also help with insurance claims. Some companies will accept footage while investigating a claim and in the event of a dispute, it’s always better to be armed with more evidence than not enough. When it comes accidents, a camera that is a cheaper model may have a grainy picture and is still only pointed in one direction. It may show an accident happening but might not demonstrate why it happened. The footage can be more useful in showing how severe an impact was caused. In this respect, dash cam footage can be useful in court when claiming for compensation. Also if you’re the victim of a hit and run, you can prove that the accident happened.
Helmet cams for cyclists are great for gathering evidence of misdemeanors that drivers commit when it comes to how they react to cyclists on the road. A worrying trend does seemed to have emerged though of cameras turning cyclists into vigilantes. Backed up by the confidence that every detail is being recorded there have been examples of cyclists following motorists to goad them into perhaps more incriminating behaviour. Drivers think that cyclists are out to get them and can inflame some altercations but from the cyclists point of view, vehicles can be deadly weapons and that’s why they get so easily angered.
But it might be something drivers just have to get used to as according to British Cycling, the gold medal performances of Victoria Pendleton and Laura Trott at London 2012, encouraged more than 250,000 women to start cycling regularly. From 2000 to 2012 the number of daily journeys made by bike in Greater London alone is thought to have doubled to 580,000.
Despite its popularity, cycling in London is still dangerous and a camera gives the cyclist a sense of safety as they capture what’s going on. However, things are looking up as the number of deaths has decreased over the last decade. Serious injury has increased though so all cyclists need to remain vigilant.