Dash cams - Do they actually work?

[HeadBanger]

** This is long, but it could help many of us. Bear with me **

Like many of you, I'd very much like to get a dash cam.

I don't have one yet because I always get caught up in the price vs quality vs just get a cheap one, it'll do the trick.
That's not what this is about though.


I want to know if a dash cam has actually helped you. Not made you $100 on YouTube, or shown your friends a funny or horrific traffic incident.

Has anybody actually used footage as proof either for a traffic stop, or for insurance claims?


The reason I ask is because a little while ago I was in Montreal. It was about 10pm and I was leaving the island heading west on the Île aux Tourtes Bridge. There's nobody in my immediate area except for me and a newish Audi. A4 or A5, I can't remember. They all look the same anyways.
The bridge is 3 lanes, and I was in the far left lane. The "Passing" lane. I was going between 105 and 115, and I notice I'm really closing the gap on Mr Audi. I stay behind him at a reasonable distance for about 20 seconds, moving as far to the left of the lane as possible, hoping my lights shine into his side mirror since obviously he didn't see me or care to change lanes prior.
Mr Audi however doesn't move.
I get a little frustrated, I just want to get home and sleep so I can be at work the next morning. I decide to flash my high beams quickly. Makes the most sense at the time instead of passing on the right which to me is much more illegal than flashing lights.

Mr Audi then brake checks me.

What. The. Hell.

Luckily for both of us I was able to slow down before hitting him. I then start yelling in my car at how stupid his is putting both our lives in danger, and pass him quite briskly since I don't want to be around somebody who's that careless.

Sorry for the long story which in reality lasts about 35 seconds.

What I want to know is hypothetically in that situation I call the cops. That's very dangerous driving on Mr Audi's part. The police don't believe me, but I show them dash cam footage.

Now is the real question.
With the situation with how I describe it, what happens? Let's say I show a 30 second clip. This shows the scenario. Now technically speaking they could fine me for flashing my lights, and passing on the right. But is there a bigger wrong?

Scenario 2
Same situation on the bridge, but 1 minute prior I was driving 145km/h, and traffic weaving. They ask to see the previous 20 minutes of driving footage and I get screwed.

Scenario 3
Mr Audi brake checks. I crash into him. I was driving like a saint, following all the rules of the road. Police and insurance want every bit of recorded footage I have available to be able to process my driving and the incident. I'm safe because I know I was driving legally.

Scenario 4
Mr Audi brake checks. I avoid the collision, but I broke the law 3km back when I didn't use my turn signal to change lanes. Cops are mad that I wasted their time because I'm not better than Mr Audi since I also brake the law.

Scenario 5
Mr Audi brake checks. I hit him. Cops and insurance want all footage. This time I was previously a menace to society driving like a maniac 15 minutes prior. However, at the time of the incident I was a law abiding citizen.



I want to know what happens in cases where there's a motor vehicle collision - or any other law breaking incident - and you have dash cam footage.

The reason for this is because I'm a car enthusiast.
My car is loud.
On occasion I'll accelerate quicker than I should.
Maybe I go above the speed limit.
Perhaps I go into an empty parking lot which has yet to be cleared of the 5 inches of snow we just got, and I do donuts.

In cases other than a funny or interesting YouTube video, does a dash cam serve a purpose?

I might spread this question internationally, but for now I only care about Canada. Specifically Ontario and Quebec.
I would prefer the experiences remain first hand please. I'm really happy that your aunts cousin's best friend's nephew got out of his speeding ticket, but I'd like details.

[DimSumHero]

I used my dashcam the last time I was rear ended since he had said he did not see my turn signals and merged into me. The dashcam footage however clearly showed it was a solid white no passing/change lane line and you can hear the click click of my turn signal.


If you're worried about time I know alot of cameras have this option but mine only records in 3 or 5 minute intervals and is easily selectable from the display.

[HeadBanger]

Originally Posted by DimSumHero

I used my dashcam the last time I was rear ended since he had said he did not see my turn signals and merged into me. The dashcam footage however clearly showed it was a solid white no passing/change lane line and you can hear the click click of my turn signal.


If you're worried about time I know alot of cameras have this option but mine only records in 3 or 5 minute intervals and is easily selectable from the display.

Thanks for the input.
I know the length of recorded time can be variable, but what did police/insurance say? Did you just submit your clip which was X minutes and they were happy with what they saw?

[DimSumHero]

Originally Posted by HeadBanger

Thanks for the input.
I know the length of recorded time can be variable, but what did police/insurance say? Did you just submit your clip which was X minutes and they were happy with what they saw?

I showed the cop right there and she wrote a ticket for the other guy afterwards. I passed on the police report to my insurance and they agreed with the officer and deemed me not at fault.

Did not have to submit the video to insurance.

[Babel]

Yes get it. Yes I have a story.

Year is 2012, wife gets back from Italy so we head to Walmart at 1am. four way intersection, turns are arrows. At a red arrow, turns green, I make it half way when a 91 civic hits me almost head on at 50mph. My car steads fast and he bounces off me hitting another car with kids and then hits a pole 80ft down the other way.

He was really drunk and only 22 years old. I go to accident lawyer and he ends up claiming I ran a red arrow and he had a green light. Shit head was drunk but I guess your word still matters.. When we told our stories ends up he was also high. His lawyer tries real hard to get me to seem like it was me.

2 years later he finally accepts liability and I settle for a shitty 6k $ when my 06 wrx was worth 17k still owed 18k. My insurance of 10 years no accidents full coverages on time payments wouldn't let me renew my policy. Cough* progressive.

In the end, if I had a cam at the time it would have been over before it even started.

4 years later in my brz, 4 months ago on way home from work guy texting I think crosses his line and almost gets me head on if I didn't swerve.

Got home bought 40$ cam on Amazon. Awesome quality, can see everything. I'm ready next time shit heads..

[FRSBRZGT86FAN]

Originally Posted by DimSumHero

I used my dashcam the last time I was rear ended since he had said he did not see my turn signals and merged into me. The dashcam footage however clearly showed it was a solid white no passing/change lane line and you can hear the click click of my turn signal.


If you're worried about time I know alot of cameras have this option but mine only records in 3 or 5 minute intervals and is easily selectable from the display.

Originally Posted by HeadBanger

Thanks for the input.
I know the length of recorded time can be variable, but what did police/insurance say? Did you just submit your clip which was X minutes and they were happy with what they saw?

Yup also mine records in 10 minute intervals and loops over old footage having a class 10 32 GB sd card really helps because footage from like 2 weeks of driving is still in there so you have plenty of time to pull out what you want in the event of an emergency.


Also my entire family has the same rexing V1 in there cars now all with 32 GB sd cards, thats 5 cars running them wireed with low voltage protection and a Lukas LK 530 UPS so they can run for around 8-12 hours when the car is parked. My mom got in a hit and run while she was in her school (shes a teacher in philadelphia) almost two weeks ago, we got the license plate number reported it to PPD as a hit and run case with the license plate emailed the video to the officer handling the case, got a report # , called our insurance company filed a claim, gave them the report # and uploaded the video link to the online case report stuff for the insurance company. It was uploaded to youtube as an unlisted video so only people with a link could see it i.e insurance company and officer in charge. The cops found the guy who did it and plainly asked him if he had done anything at the location that day they couldn't pin it on him, but his insurance company took care of our damage.

[FRSBRZGT86FAN]

Originally Posted by DimSumHero

I showed the cop right there and she wrote a ticket for the other guy afterwards. I passed on the police report to my insurance and they agreed with the officer and deemed me not at fault.

Did not have to submit the video to insurance.

As for playing the video did you play it on the dash cam itself or on the laptop in the police car, because I feel like my dash cams screen wouldn't be high quality enough to make stuff out, I have a usb sd card adapter in the car and it could easily be played on a laptop

[Kazuya]

I have footage of three near fatal accidents on my discounted 170$ blackvue. You have no idea how easy I could've let them hit me and take all their money. All three scenario was their fault and I was quick enough to react, having a dashcam is literally the best investment yu can make for automotive and your health.

From experience, we have an owner here who got hit twice in a brand new car and has won both cases in less than 24hr.

[VirUzxZ]

Incident 1
Parking mode. Underground parking at work
Dude backs up to far into my front passenger side (I back up into my spots).
Messes up my plate relocator. no real damage to the actual bumper since I guess the locator absorbed most of the "hit".
Dude doesn't get out or anything just takes off.
Got the plate off the dash cam, found his car the next day (monthly registered parking area for work, not assigned spots or anything but still). Left a note, said buy me new locator, I get money, I get new locator.


Incident 2
Coming to a stop at a red in the middle lane of a 3 lane road. Red is solid for a good 3-5 seconds I pull up to the guy in front of me. Just as I come to a stop this guy in a truck (think moving truck kinda big) decides that him being in the left lane is no good for him so he's gonna change lanes into the middle lane. I ALMOST managed to clear him but he manages to clip my back left bumper. Scuff's the bumper bad but repairable, but also warps the rear driverside quarter panel.


Queue the standard "I didn't do it", "it's your fault", "you fucked up" dance. I whipped out the iPad, turned on the localized wifi network for the dashcam, showed it to him and 24 hours later she's in the shop getting fixed with the cost handled by him.




So for me Great investment, granted I don't think I would a lost out in the second incident but it did allow the transaction to be substantially easier.


Now I'm no traffic lawyer or expert or anything. I've had my run ins with the brake checkers, so I feel your pain.


HOWEVER as far as I know, in ONTARIO, in the event of a brake check regardless of rhyme or reason and you hit the brake checker, You are at fault. 100% of the time. Something about always leaving enough room to stop business.


Dunno about the stuff you may have done before the event should the wanna watch the whole thing, but isn't that why some people wait a crazy long time to post stupid illegal shit they did, like that afro duck guy or something that lapped some city in the US in a crazy low time? Shrug

[hmong337]

The first thing I purchased immediately after getting my FRS was a dashcam.

Now, I feel naked driving without one. All my cars run a dashcam. It's the cheapest single piece of insurance you can do to protect yourself.

Back in December, my wife and I were rear ended in her Lexus. If needed be, I had the dashcam rolling the entire time. Even being rear ended, it was pretty obvious upon reviewing the footage what happened. I'm looking to upgrade our fleet with dual cam dashcams hopefully soon. But getting back to the accident, dude was clearly at fault and I didn't need to go to the footage. But even if anything were to crop up, I had all the evidence I needed.

Truth is, dashcams are gaining in popularity more everyday. I honestly think every car should have one.

[soulreapersteve]

Get a dashcam. Personally, I haven't had it help me yet per say. But, I've been in way too many situations where people almost hit me (knock on wood!)

The last straw was when a lifted truck drifted into my lane during a turn at a major intersection, I honked to let him know I was there, and he gave me the bird. He also picked up a glass bottle (looked to be beer) and almost threw it at the car.

Yes, dashcams *could* be a double-edged sword. But I say the rewards outweigh the risks.

If price is an issue, the G1W-C is relatively cheap and very popular.

https://dashcamtalk.com/g1w/

[HeadBanger]

Thanks for all the input guys, especially the ones with actual experience.

I might actually call insurance companies and maybe contact police to see what policies or general procedure is.

I'm just worried that they nit-pick and try to crucify you for something negligible even though there's something larger at play.

[DimSumHero]

Originally Posted by FRSBRZGT86FAN

As for playing the video did you play it on the dash cam itself or on the laptop in the police car, because I feel like my dash cams screen wouldn't be high quality enough to make stuff out, I have a usb sd card adapter in the car and it could easily be played on a laptop

I just showed her on my display since it was easy to show the solid dividing line I'm recording at 1080p 60fps so it was quite clear, i had my laptop too and could've uploaded there as well since I also am running a 32GB card.

[darko]

I have the G1W-C dashcam, best purchase imo. Spend 70-100$ on something that could potentially save your ass is really worth it. I recorded so many aggressive drivers on the redhill hwy in ontario, people cutting you off for no reason.

On the plus side, it can record your street races...shh