STACK #210 Apr 2022

LIFE TECH FEATURE

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More and more drivers are opting to put dash cams in their cars. But what’s the deal, and where do you start? We’ve got you covered in our essential dash cam buying guide.

The quality When you’re shopping for a dash cam, camera quality is one of the most important factors to take into consideration. In short, a higher quality camera will produce a better image, and this might be important in identification during an incident. A camera’s resolution is measured in pixels, and the general rule of thumb is the higher the pixels, the better the quality of the image. Aim for a camera with at least an HD 1080p resolution. The frame rate A dash cam captures video footage and, as such, the frame rate is an

The basics A dash cam is either mounted on, as the name suggests, a dashboard or, more commonly, affixed to a windscreen. The ideal location for a dash cam is below the rear- view mirror or directly underneath it. This position is best suited

I t’s a familiar story. You’re travelling along a road on the way to work and abiding by the speed limit when a car in the right-hand lane inexplicably pulls across in front of you without indicating. Bang! It’s not your fault, of course, and the driver apologises at the scene. But when it comes to chasing the insurance claim, they’ve had a sudden change of mind. With no witnesses, it’s now your word against theirs. In this scenario a dash cam is an indispensable addition and will assist in mitigating any contention surrounding the incident. It’s not always foolproof, but being able to hand a time, speed, and GPS-stamped video to your insurance company goes a long way in alleviating any disputes. However, dash cams are useful in more than just collisions. They can be used to record a memorable part of a road trip, a road rage incident, identify errors when teaching someone to drive, or to simply catch that ‘you wouldn’t believe it’ moment that can happen on a daily drive. Dash cams often come as an expensive optional extra on new car purchases. But if you don’t already have one fitted in the car, the good news is that it’s an absolute breeze to install one yourself. This is what you need to know.

important consideration. The standard is 30 frames per second (fps), which is suitable for most uses. Some models offer 60fps, and while this does provide smoother video, it’s worth noting that it will chew up more storage. 30fps is perfectly fine if the budget won’t stretch to 60. The night It’s estimated that we spend a

quarter of our time driving at night, and this is where certain dangers such as visual impairment and fatigue increase. Choosing a camera empowered with decent night vision will afford the user clear and detailed video footage even in low lit areas. The screen Built-in screens are common in dash cams and average around two inches long. Having a screen will determine whether the camera is aligned correctly and adjust settings on the fly.

to capture – through a wide-angled lens – what’s happening in front of the vehicle without distracting the driver’s field of vision. Dash cams are mounted using either an auto-grade adhesive pad or a suction cup bracket. While some models are designed to be hardwired to a car battery by a professional, most retail units simply connect to a power source via the vehicle’s 12V socket. Once you start the car, the camera will begin recording.

56 APRIL 2022

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