A dash cam is like a second pair of eyes for your car, alerting you to what’s happening around you while you drive and providing important evidence in the event of an incident. These handy devices can also help you spot other drivers’ mistakes – including those involved in “crash for cash” scams, which are on the rise – and some even offer driver aids to keep you safe behind the wheel.
Unlike standard camera lenses, which often have a fisheye effect and only capture what’s directly in front of the car, dash cams are designed to be wide-angle so that as much of the road as possible is visible to the driver. This helps to reduce blind spots, improve safety and enable the driver to see if they are being followed by another car or motorcycle. The latest dash cams can record in either 4K or HD and are available with a range of features, from GPS to built-in voice control, and the ability to add external rear-facing cameras for a complete overview of your vehicle and surroundings.
As well as recording a video of what happens while you’re driving, many modern dash cams can be triggered to record when an impact occurs or when the motion sensor detects that the car has been tampered with while parked. They can also use a built-in microphone to provide audio evidence in the event of an accident, which can be invaluable if you’re not sure who caused a collision.
Some dash cams also feature a 3-inch rear screen for easy video playback and settings, while others use a smartphone app to configure the device and access recorded footage. Those that have an integrated GPS feature can display the location of your vehicle on a map, which can prove useful if you’re involved in a road accident. Some have a polarising filter to reduce dashboard reflections and to maximise image quality, while others support Full HD or higher resolutions for smoother video.
Other features worth looking out for in a dash cam include a continuous loop to minimize storage requirements, which is usually overwritten on a set interval unless an incident triggers a saved recording. Some cameras can automatically upload footage to the cloud, a good hedge against theft, and some allow you to pay a monthly subscription for extended long-term storage.
Some of the best dash cams also use a supercapacitor to power these functions when 12-volt battery power is cut, which can give them a much better chance of capturing important footage in the event of an incident that cuts out regular power. This is especially useful for taxi drivers and similar professionals who need to be able to record the activity surrounding their cars while they’re parked.