Dash cams - Do they actually work?

[drewbot]

Too lazy to type long scenario.

However, it allowed me to catch the guy who hit my parked car and reported it. Was able to file a claim and nailed him.

[Gringosteve]

Just give the 3 min file and say the others files went missing while transferring the data?

[eddieflyinv]

I would say they are worth the investment. I bought one right after some dumbass filed a Hit and Run against me after claiming I hit him at a red light.. If I had the dash cam already I would have been able to show the police that the closest I got was 2ft from his bumper while honking and edging up after he sat at the green light for 10 seconds, annnd would get to show them how much of an irrational moron he was when he found me in the gas station parking lot I happened to be getting smokes at...
For incidents like this I wish I had gotten it sooner. It would be open and shut, no BS, just go on your merry way and leave each other alone kind of case..
Had one in my last car and never bothered to take it out before trading it in, which I very much regret.

Sent from my LG-H812 using Tapatalk

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by 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.

Don't sweat it. They can only take what you offer them or get a warrant for the material directly related to the incident. They can not go back and look at all the footage trying to find where you did other things as they are irrelevant to the case. If you screw up and don't want them using the dash cam footage you simply don't offer it up. The odds of them getting a warrant for a simple traffic accident is almost nil.
Now, do be careful what you do throw out there though because you may think you were perfectly in the clear when in fact you did commit some sort of offense. Your scenario 3 would be an example of this. Even though you thought you were "driving like a saint" you hit the rear of his car which means you were not driving with due regard and no matter what shit he pulled (even brake checking) you are going to be charged. There is no sense it putting the footage up for that since it just seals the deal that you screwed up.


Oh and almost forgot. Your insurance company has zero authority to force you to provide footage under any circumstances. You can show them what ever you want but they can not demand to see it.

[Cole]

@Tcoat the only way I could see you getting away with rear ending someone in the "brake check" event, is if in fact the dude was driving recklessly, and you had the footage (like, a lot of it) to prove it. But even then, I don't know if there's ANY way to justify rear ending someone.

Hell, you can get charged for rear ending someone after you get rear ended.

[FLYFISHR]

What if they pulled into your lane and then brake checked you, couldn't they be charged with an unsafe lane change, and then you would not be charged for rear ending them?

[Cole]

Originally Posted by FLYFISHR

What if they pulled into your lane and then brake checked you, couldn't they be charged with an unsafe lane change, and then you would not be charged for rear ending them?

You failed to leave a gap between you and the car in front of you, which if you did, you wouldn't have rear ended the person who cut you off.

[FLYFISHR]

Originally Posted by Cole

You failed to leave a gap between you and the car in front of you, which if you did, you wouldn't have rear ended the person who cut you off.

Have you driven in the GTA? Leave that kind of gap and you will be at a stand still or in reverse.

[Cole]

Originally Posted by FLYFISHR

Have you driven in the GTA? Leave that kind of gap and you will be at a stand still or in reverse.

I do drive in the GTA quite often. I live in Guelph and work in Markham. Then, when I get to Markham, I'm often sent out to do field work in various parts of the GTA. But, I get paid for driving, so I can go at whatever speed is safe.

Regardless of the situation, 9.9 times out of 10, if you rear end someone, you're getting a ticket.

Originally Posted by FLYFISHR

What if they pulled into your lane and then brake checked you, couldn't they be charged with an unsafe lane change, and then you would not be charged for rear ending them?

They could get a careless, or they can get charged with HTA 172 which is more serious.

[FLYFISHR]

Originally Posted by Cole

I do drive in the GTA quite often. I live in Guelph and work in Markham. Then, when I get to Markham, I'm often sent out to do field work in various parts of the GTA.

Can't say I envy your DD on a day like today. The only positive spin I can put on it is that this weather thins the herd as those that can't drive have their cars in the shop for a couple of weeks.

[Cole]

Originally Posted by FLYFISHR

Can't say I envy your DD on a day like today. The only positive spin I can put on it is that this weather thins the herd as those that can't drive have their cars in the shop for a couple of weeks.

I actually have the week off, so no worries for me.

Really, the only bad part of my drive is in Milton. I wouldn't dream of doing the drive on the 401 between the 401 at the 407 exit and the 404. I just take the 407 and eat the cost between mid-December and Mid-March. Any other time of the year, my work pays for it or the clients pay for it. A justification I used for the 40-50 bucks a day is that taking the 407 saves me an hour or more in driving time and that allows me to sleep in an extra hour and have an extra hour at home during the day.

Since I work so much between March and early December (50-100 hours a week) I like being home when I can, even if it costs me some extra money.

Edit: Speaking to bad weather and even worse drivers; It's pretty clear that something needs to be done in the licensing department. The test obviously needs to be much more difficult, and you should have to do your test in or at least very close to your home postal code. There's way too many fucking people from the GTA who come to Guelph to do their driving tests. Guelph is a way easier city to drive in, and the "highway" you drive on is a 70 limit and you're only on there for 3 km in sparse traffic. Nothing like a 400 series highway.

[SLVRSRFR]

I think it's a blanket rule, albeit one that needs some tweaking.

It's impossible to leave an appropriate gap in traffic in the GTA, at least in stop and go; some asshole always takes it as an invitation to merge in front of you. YES PLEASE GO AHEAD! I LEFT THAT GAP OPEN JUST FOR YOU!!!...

[FLYFISHR]

We would only have half as many drivers on the road if the drivers test included an IQ test. Or import the drivers test that Scandinavian have to do to get their licences'.