Do you have a dashcam??

i got one free with some tyres. halo something. i connected it to it the other day for the first time in about a year as it started making a really load chime when it started up.

12 months of 20s clips of me swearing at potholes.

Yes, never had to use it fortunately but IMO you’d be mad not to have one these days, potential to save so much grief for a very small investment.
I have Blackvue 4k but whatever is in-budget & gets decent reviews is better than nothing!

Nopes.

Nope - you do see that a lot of people that have them are the ones always get in to near misses / looking clueless on the roads

Buy a Tesla and they are built in.

I have Nextbase 512G but I fancy those Garmin tiny ones as they don't take up space.

Got given a Nextbase something or other a few years ago. Actually "used" it for the first time a few months ago to report some truly terrible and dangerous driving but mostly it's just there being ignored. It's mounted so the rear view mirror obscures it from my eyeline but the screen shuts down after a minute or so anyway, and it's set not to record cabin sounds.

Yes, I haven't needed to use it but £100 or so could save a lot of hassle in future. I could have sent plenty of clips of dodgy driving to the police but I CBA.

Have a blackvue of some sort in both cars. Wouldn’t be without one now, having had some cretin drive into my car while I was parked and then claim I’d hit them.

IMO the smaller the better. The BlackVues are lush as they’re a barrel with a camera sticking out, no screen and can be configured to silently, lightlessly just get on with the job.

Though it makes my OCD trigger, piggy back fuses are the easiest way to power them. I’ve a powermagic pro inline to take care of ignition on/parking mode and battery condition.  Possibly worth it.

Are you angry and shout a lot, always on your horn and boot it across every roundabout trying to hit 60 before the exit ? then yes they are probably for you.

Yes, it's a Chinese make, can't remember which, from Amazon. In my experience...

a connected app isn't important, you'll likely never use it.

High frame rate is more important than massive resolution for capturing number plates. A decent night-time mode for the same reason.

Mine doesn't have GPS, I wish it did to keep the clock accurate and if necessary record the fact I wasn't speeding if I have an incident.

I've not had to use footage from it as part of an insurance claim, but I have sent footage of rank stupidity to Cheshire Police on more than one occasion. At least one of them I'm pretty confident led to some action.

Yep, one of the small Garmin ones. Sits out of the way behind the rearview mirror so you don't even see it, straightforward job to put in a fuse tap and run the cable up. You just forget about it until something happens (although it's a good idea to check that it's actually working occasionally).

I've used one since someone on a forum had a bit of timber fly off an oncoming tipper Transit into their car, smashing the a-pillar and windscreen. Would have had no chance of getting the numberplate otherwise (driver hadn't even realised it had come loose) but as it was they could send the footage to their insurance company, no dispute from the other insurer, all sorted in no time.

Not had it personally save me but I've caught a couple of other silly accidents that it's helped sort out.

I got out of my van after reversing into a slot at Tesco and saw the front bumper of a newish Range Rover in a crumpled mess.  I was very relieved to roll the video back and see it was like that before I arrived.  On the other hand I was able to show Mrs BigJohn the car she scraped was unblemished before she parked.

the second hand car I recently bought had one fitted by the previous owner, I removed it.

Are you angry and shout a lot, always on your horn and boot it across every roundabout trying to hit 60 before the exit ? then yes they are probably for you.

Ha... I do chuckle at the submitted youtube videos of people 'chasing' an accident!!

So I'm toying between the high quality Nextbase 622GW, or the tiny garmin mini 2..

DrP

Do you have a dashcam??

Nope

Yes, I've got a Thinkware that's about 5 years old now with a front and rear camera. I did most of the installation, pulling the roof lining carefully apart and running the cables *behind* the airbags, and then paid a local car audio installer about £40 to wire it into the fusebox to make sure it was properly set up, powered when the ignition was off but also knew when it was on.

I haven't had to give it any attention; it's been useful to pull the card out of it and review it when incidents have happened near the car but so far I haven't needed to use any recordings as "evidence". The recordings have been nice and clear, even at night. I'd definitely recommend having one just in case.

(just looked it up, it's an F800 Pro, a little out-dated now but still good quality)

I do. It was fitted to my car when I bought it. No idea how it works, but it plays a little jingle when I switch the ignition on and some kind of BONG if I press the hazard symbol on it (presumably that 'marks' the video so I can find the footage quickly?) I think it's supposed to link to my phone so I can set it up, but so far I haven't been arsed.

I'm told I get cheaper car insurance if I tell them I've got one, is that correct?

If it helps, I've had 2 nextbase cameras and they've both been unreliable, current one is a 522GW. Somebody is bound to chip in now: "mine works fine, it'll be your SD card", no it isn't. Nor is it the cable. Or USB connector. Or battery. They've all been replaced with OEM parts. It's also on the latest firmware and has been factory reset.

The reason i have one is because some psycho roadraged at me, then tried to follow me home because of an incident that wasn't my fault. What I don't do is drive into peoples errors then yell "yaron camura YARON CAMURA YOUTUBE YOUTUBE" while pointing at the dashcam with a crazed look in my eyes.

My dad has Nextbase - I need to help him reconnect his phone to it EVERY time I see him.  No idea if it's a camera issue, a phone issue or a dad issue, but it's made me think I'd avoid them if I ever decide to get one.

Yes. Bought a cheap Orskey one off Amazon. Only because I'm on the road so much more now and had a few people cut across me when they're about to miss an exit and nearly cause an accident. Or tailgaters that want to drive 20mph over the limit. Though i think they often see the rear cam and back off now. It's just so if there is an accident that was not my fault, I can hopefully prove it wasn't my fault to the insurance companies.

It was about £35 and has a rear cam too. Only limiting factor is it has a maximum memory card size of 32GB which is about 2 hours of video before it starts to overwrite. Not a problem since if there is an accident, just remove the card. No apps required. More expensive ones can upload via WIFI to backup the data.

Yes - a Garmin unit front and rear. The front one positioned behind the mirror so I can't even see it when driving. Wires tucked away behind headlining etc and just powered by a cigarette lighter type adaptor - I'll get around to wiring it in properly to the fuse box one day.

In use it's barely noticeable. A beep when I start the car which confirms power is on - when an incident is detected it beeps to say it's registered something. A button to press to register an event, or can be voice controlled. A continuous loop of kept going so even if you don't register an incident you can go back later.

I've caught several potential issues with it already - happily none that came to anything but it's nice to know it's there in case one does turn out for the worse in the future.

Overall yes, it works great and I'd recommend it.

We've got a car with one (Garmin), should have two but I've been too lazy to sort it. They started to sound more useful after a friend got caught out in a "crash for cash" (no camera) and a relative got accused of causing a motorway crash (with camera, so quickly sent packing)

cheers all...

Hve gone for the Nextbase one - it seems to have reasonable features like GPS and better video, albeit it IS a bit larger... will see how easily it can install in the LEAF, and if it's too intrusive will jsut send it back and get the garmin mini!

DrP

I've had one in the cupboard waiting to be fitted for about 12 months now. Insurance appears to have gone up from ~£330 to ~£850 for nothing other than getting 1 year older so I think I'll be fitting it soon if it does lower the premium.

Yes. Wouldn't be without one given the general driving standards. Proved vital in confirming who was at fault (wisnae me) in a collision I had in Mrs a11y's car a few years ago. Still pissed about that one as I missed an awesome night MTB ride apparently.

I've now got front and rear facing Ring ones in my car. Tiny little things without screens. Installed myself so they're not visible from driving seat.

Yes, simple no app camera.

Records sound if you want, small screen to confirm aim which shuts off after the engine starts.

Fag lighter-powered Transcend something

I just need a rear one now so might get some cheapo version to try it out.

Although I drive an old car (2005) usually within the speed limit, I do get many people cutting in front of me because they can or prefer to drive faster etc.  Not sure why because I tend to drive at non-peak hour.

I also prefer no app dashcam as it is much easier to deal with.

as I’m driving a bit more now, and with the rise in numpties on the road

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Correlation

Only kidding DrP 😀

They're so cheap why wouldn't you get one? Worried about self incrimination? Not a snitch?

I fitted one when I started teaching my kids to drive - in an accident there's often bias to blame learner so I wanted something other than my word vs theirs. The only time I've taken footage off when I was witness to an accident and provided footage to both parties, initially they blamed each other the footage was clear who was at fault, the driver at fault thanked me anyway.

Only once or twice I've seen things perhaps I should have submitted (like overtaking opposite side of traffic lights at 50mph) but not done so as catching out others wasn't the primary reason for getting one.

They’re so cheap why wouldn’t you get one?

This was kind of my thinking!

Anyway.. it seems there's few minuses, so went for one!

DrP

Yes  , and I'm surprised that all new cars aren't fitted with them these days , what's not to like ,  and why would you buy a used car with a dashcam and remove it?

but as I’m driving a bit more now, and with the rise in numpties on the road,

Are these two closely related? 😉

Not anymore. Did have a basic Ring branded one that I had inherited from my dad (who had a habit of buying tech that he has no use for!) but it let me down when I needed it.

I guess like most things they aren’t needed until they are, but are there any disadvantages I guess?

Mine failed to record the moments a minute before and after when I was rear-ended back in March. It got chucked in the bin after that. Thought about getting a better one but I've noticed that people with them tend to be bad drivers, either clueless or overly aggressive, so I don't want to be labeled like them! Also twice I've submitted clips to the police after witnessing incidents and both times they were classed as inadmissable as they didn't have a few minutes before and after, pretty hard when it automatically clips things down to a minute before and after and couldn't be changed.

Are you angry and shout a lot, always on your horn and boot it across every roundabout trying to hit 60 before the exit ? then yes they are probably for you.

Sounds like confirmation bias. A bit like if I said drivers without one are angry, shout a lot etc...
One has little to do with the other.

why would you buy a used car with a dashcam and remove it?

A few reasons

- I don't want to be part of a society where everyone's every move is recorded on video,so would be hypocritical for me to use a dash cam. I appreciate that me doing this does not change the fact that we are surveiled all the time. Also see black box data recorders.
- the one fitted to my car was ugly,and was very easy to remove.
- I think people should be free to make minor errors without people with a dashcam sending the footage of said error to the police or putting it on you tube (this is closely related to my first point) -everyone makes minor mistakes as they go through life. I do only mean minor mistakes here,ones that don't result in any damage to other people or property.
- unlike a lot of people above I really don't see much bad behaviour on the roads that footage from a dashcam would be useful for,I've never been involved in an incident where one might be useful.

There are clearly examples above where dashcams have been very beneficial,so they clearly have their benefits, I choose not to have one though.

People do make minor errors but they're not the ones that make it onto YouTube!

Edit to add, I can really see the benefit of a bike dashcam (helmet cam?) though as the number of times I've had some dick pull out on me, close pass,or generally shout abuse at me while on a bike is ridiculous, and I'm starting to wonder if it's me doing something to provoke this kind of reaction because it happens far too often.

People do make minor errors but they’re not the ones that make it onto YouTube!

I have a dashcam but tbf there are some right nobbers on YouTube and Instagram that upload a bunch of minor, tedious nonsense e.g. a truck pulls out too early at a roundabout causing Dashcam Dick to be delayed by 2 seconds and honk 15 times. Who cares? (I didn't look for the content, the algorithm forced me to watch it...)

I've had one for ten years now i guess.  I get an insurance discount because i have it.  Its helped me out on one occasion so far.

I've been using a yi dash cam for several years. Works well, night time vision is good, no GPS. Once every few years I take the SD card out and look at the footage. Most of the saved clips are of interesting places and nice views.

I need to put another camera in the Corsa e as that is the car doing the most miles at the moment.

– I think people should be free to make minor errors without people with a dashcam sending the footage of said error to the police

The ones I submitted were people too impatient to wait in a short traffic queue. One went the wrong side of a dual carriage way which had a gap about 100 m before it ended. The other went through red traffic lights also on the wrong side of the road then turned  left just as the lights were going green.

I've got no issues stitching on utterly cretinous driving.

I was bought one as a present. I just forget its there now. My son recently reported a driver who undercut others then brake tested him from 70 to 20 on a local motorway. Police didn't hang about and prosecuted the driver on the video evidence.

Yes, against my will initially. It paid for itself with insurance discounts. Also caught the ’guilty’ other driver in a no fault claim, and my footage helped with a crash ahead of me. Still feel pretty daft having it stuck up there on the windscreen, though.

Yes, got one added when getting the latest car.

It sits behind the pretty-large mirror cluster, totally unobtrusive,  I don't even see it when driving.

Used it twice so far to grass up some truly atrocious fheckwhit eeeejit knobhaedery of other drivers.  One where a total knobjockey in a Celica near Chapel en le Frith tried to outbrake another car into a roundabout to get into a non existant gap, ****ed up, banged partially over the roundabout, accelerated past the other car then did the most moronic move to swerve back in front of the other car then hit the brakes.  (If I'd been in the  'victim' Land Rover and had a dashcam, I'd probably just have hit him).

2nd was another moron that would have caused a 130mph combined head-on the wrong side of the road with another car,  if I'd not seem the c×÷t in my rear  mirror on their death-move and managed to brake to open a gap in front of me in the line of traffic that the prick could swerved back into. The feds would have been dealing with a multi-death crash if I'd not done that. That's been taken up by the Feds for dangerous driving. They need castration for that - utterly reckless, not just a bit of an error.

Just wish I'd spent another £100 to get the rear view camera too.

I've also used the one on the back of the bike.

A near-neighbour found their dash cam useful when the caravan trailer of a travelling fair's big truck detached from its towing eye (no safety cable or brake on the caravan/hitch of course), crossed to the wrong side of the road, hit him,  and caused him to over-turn.  Without the video nobody would have believed it.

Any recommendations for the budget end that are good?

I've had a few cheapies over the years, the latest one is front and rear but it's really sensitive to conditions...caught footage of a cyclist with a child on his nearside getting clipped (hit) by an idiot with front and rear number plate legible, but then it failed to get a legible plate (both front and rear camera) of a crazy overtake by a van (with baby in passenger seat) on a blind bend after loads of safe opportunities, and then also failed when he got slowed down by traffic and went through a red light at roadworks a few minutes later!

I have a dashcam but tbf there are some right nobbers on YouTube and Instagram that upload a bunch of minor, tedious nonsense e.g. a truck pulls out too early at a roundabout causing Dashcam Dick to be delayed by 2 seconds and honk 15 times. Who cares?

Completely agree... and i CAN see why people believe dashcam users are angry angry people, because shite like that that gets uploaded to YT, wheras i'd just be "oh well, probably doesn't know the local road/roundabout layout" are easy for forgive and forget..

Really I want one kinda for MY protection I guess...

Will update once it's arrived and installed!

DrP

had one for about 7/8 yrs - saved me a ton of hassle when i got sideswiped/spun last december - proof from the start that i wasnt at fault and made dealing with all insurance stuff easy as there was an acceptance from the other parties insurer that they were 100% at fault a day after the accident.

Got a better one for the replacement car and fitted the old one in the wifes car.

Your own footage can also be used against you.

Have been advised if involved in an accident where Police attend, to remove SD cards/before they arrive. If they remove the SD card then everything captured (not just from that incident) can be used as evidence

Your own footage can also be used against you.

Indeed!

I think I remember that a bunch of Sunday bikers had their footage used against them after one of them got pulled out on by a car

Yep, I'm all our vehicles.

Saved a lot of insurance hassle when the hgv reversed over my van (stopped with handbrake on in a queue of traffic) and their insurance tried to dispute fault. Wife's one has been used by the police for prosecution when she witnessed an accident.

Previously some road raging nobber tried to run us off the road, he got 3 points and about £600 in fine based on witness testimony, had the dashcam been fitted and not in a box on the dining room table I am sure it would have saved us the hassle of turning up to court, and he would most likely have been walking to work for a while.

when i used to ride motorbikes i always heard stories of riders being stopped by the police (usually for being a nob), then the police seizing their gopro (other action cams are available), reviewing the footage and then prosecuting them further from whatever they found. One bloke had his bike crushed and did a couple of weeks in prison... or so the story goes.

Is this something that is possible with dashcams? Or is there some sort of loop hole in the law? (obvs you deserve all you get, criminals behind the wheel, hooligans etc etc)

Or is it just a bunch of old wives tales?

Or is it just a bunch of old wives tales?

I'm struggling to give a **** about those poor people who may or may not have had that happen to them. There's only one way to have film. Of you being a bell end on a public road on your dashcam while riding on public roads.

Givent he number of people driving round on their phones , doing their make up or eating their breakfast.... Ill take that risk for having proof that the other party is taking the piss.

I have one - I bought it after I was involved in an accident where the other driver overtook a cyclist while I was driving the other way. The cyclist disappeared and the driver was so old he didn't really  understand what had happened. Fortunately there was a witness but it struck me that if there weren't it'd be my word against his and I don't trust insurance companies to believe the innocent party.

I've never needed to download footage from it, and it's very small and discreet, but I know it works and if the same thing happens again I'll be glad of it.

I have a new Road Angel Halo and hardwire kit that I need to sell if anyone needs one - I bought it when I thought my old one had died but it turns out a windscreen fitter had just disconnected it. £45 and it's yours.

Or is it just a bunch of old wives tales?

Interesting one. I can see that it could be used as evidence of a specific offence, e.g. the collision that the police attend, however, I'd be less certain about the success of a "fishing trip" from viewing a whole camera memory from start to finish

Job for a solicitor...the Courts have the power to control evidence and exclude it https://www.justice.gov.uk/courts/procedure-rules/civil/rules/part32#32.1 and https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1984/60/section/78?view=plain

Those who have got an insurance discount - how is it worded?

Is there a risk that if your third party product that may have been home installed and in some (but not all) cases require user interaction when setting off - is for whatever reason not functioning when you are in an accident, are you going to be in deep doo doo?

It was such a minimal discount on account of my policy being absolute buttons that I just didn't bother with the dashcam tickbox...consumer electronics are a pain at the best of times.

Those who have got an insurance discount – how is it worded?

trail_rat+1 My feeling is that sometimes you're better laying out the full premium, then if something goes wrong it doesn't cause a problem

Ever since the Royal Mail tried to assassinate me with a HGV I bought one for my new car. Nextbase 622GW. For some odd reason they couldn't fit the rear as the electrics are being used by the towbar.
I don't bother to connect the phone as it records and saves any way.

Really I want one kinda for MY protection I guess…

Will update once it’s arrived and installed!

Looking forward to you first YouTube upload titled "Absolute IDIOT pulls out of parking space before fastening seatbelt - ROAD CARNAGE #dashcamvids" 😉

I'm constantly amazed at how the most innocuous, seemingly uncontentious question on here, can elicit such frothing, accusatory responses.

@ayjaydoubleyou, we've a few insurers (work in the industry) that ask about dash cams. No discount given BUT, if you give the insurer dash cam footage within 48 hours (fault or non-fault) they will waive the Excess so could be a considerable saving.

I keep meaning to get one.

Does anyone care to recommend one which record bumps in the night/whilst parked please?

Specifically, my van being driven into whilst parked on the road at night. Not fussed about read view.

Nextbase front and rear camera hardwired to the ignition. It's hidden behind the rear view mirror. Fit and forget and hope you never have to use it. Just get the one in your price bracket or the ones that's on offer. Personally I wouldn't waste my money on 4k, HD is enough.

I installed it myself. Hardwiring kit comes with a piggy back fuse. Really easy to install. Hardest part is working out which fuse to use and tucking the wire behind the trim.

If you don't fancy doing it yourself then Halfords price match and often do free hard wire kit with every installation.

I've always had one in my campervan but it was the wife's car I had a crash in. Someone ran into the back of me when the car in front of me stopped, I stopped but he didn't. So even though its obvious it's not my fault they haven't admitted liability and it's still ongoing from January and both our insurance policies have gone up by £300 and £250 as there's an outstanding claim against me.

Its one of those things you wish you had bought earlier.

My general observation is that most and I stress "most" cars I see with them fitted are driven by spatially unaware people.

Yesterdays example was the elderly chap who pulled out somewhat late in front of me while I was doing 28 in a 30. I had anticipated with almost cat like reactions that the doddery old giffer in a Nissan Note was going to do so!

He then proceeded to brake quite hard for an almost imperceptible corner from 26mph in a 50 zone and then wander about between the white lines at 18mph in a 40 zone till thankfully he indicated left onto a side road by a farm where he bounced off the kerb as he turned in and almost struck the car in the opposite carriage way.

I would like to say this is an isolated incident close to where I live but I can't!

If you value your sanity/body panels for the love of all that is sacred to you don't drive near Heswall/Gayton on the Wirral

I used to use one, but it’s software is now obsolete so I ought to get another. Could have done with it earlier this evening when a tosser in a white van with a ‘HIGHWAY MAINTENANCE’ sticker on the back forced his way in front of me exiting a roundabout by using the wrong lane, then jamming his brakes on hard when I leaned on the horn. ****er.

I don’t trust insurance companies to believe the innocent party

Their belief wouldn't hold up in court so on disputed claims with no witnesses it's just cheaper for them to settle it 50:50, it's frustrating but you can't really blame them over it (and is the main reason why dash cams are worth having).

Their belief wouldn’t hold up in cour

The main reason I have one is an incident with a car with 2 occupants suddenly having 4 occupants and their family following behind....

They drove into the side of my wife's car damaged it from the passengers door back and still the insurance went against us because the witnesses said my wife drove into hers.

Our insurance (markerstudy) would not fight it.

Nope,it would feel like giving in and make me sad.
I am going to wait for the automated transport revolution,where all vehicles will scan (and film) to optimise travel choices. 😉

My general observation is that most and I stress “most” cars I see with them fitted are driven by spatially unaware people.

More confirmation bias IMO.

I think that all motor vehicles ought to have them built in & untamperable, so they can at least be viewed in the event of an accident, but I don't actually have one so should correct that, would like to get one for bicycle/motorbike in case of the worst happening 🤞

All fitted..hardwired in... cables hidden.

A rather uneventful series of events TBH....

Now to go get all "vigilante on the streetzzzz"...

DrP

@drp - what did you end up getting? Did you get it installed from the same place you got it from? Halfords?

I keep looking at them, but the whole potential install ball-ache puts me off.
Is yours front mounted only, or front & rear?

Can you remove it easily, if required (i.e. to stop it getting nicked, when parked up for a while?)?

I got a Nextbase 622GW.. all bells and whistles, but I got a refeurb so was £170 (direct from nextbase).

Install is dead easy TBH..

1 - sticking it to the windscreen is easy

2 - wiring; can very simply plug into fag socket and have wires loose, or do this and tuck wires away, or do a 'hard wire install'..

I got the hardwire kit (£20 from amazon) and it's just a case of finding the cabin fusebox, which in my LEAF is basically next to the passenger glovebox.. find a fuse labelled 'battery/aux' so it's only live when ignition is on, and plug the fuse piggyback into that fuse. Then attach the ground to a metal screw in the same areaTHe hardest part (which isn't hard, just takes time) is tucking the cable into the roof and a pilalr trim..

Honestly, if you can fiddle on a bike, you can fit this.

Mine is front only, but can buy a rear plug in unit, and it'll record front and rear in 4k/1080p

And the wiring goes into the mount affixed to the screen, so the camera can just pop off if you want.

DrP

Mine is just plugged into the usb port next to my cigarette lighter. I've routed it through the glove box, wedged between windscreen and pillar and round the sun visor. It's not perfect but I don't notice whilst driving at all.

Cheers for the feedback.
Should really just bite the bullet and get one fitted to both cars.

Can you remove it easily, if required (i.e. to stop it getting nicked, when parked up for a while?)?

Is that a thing +(people Nicking dash cams)

We have them in both cars and the camper . Have done for years never hid them away

trail_rat

Is that a thing +(people Nicking dash cams)

Knowing my luck?? It probably will be.

then jamming his brakes on hard when I leaned on the horn

tsk tsk temper temper...