Indian roads are strewn with cars, bikes, and auto-rickshaws, and if you're lucky, you will get to witness a random cow magnificently lying in the middle of the road. No matter where you travel in India, the roads are sure to keep you entertained, despite the endless traffic.
No matter how good the roads are, accidents can occur at any time. Rash driving and road rage are some of the most common sights on Indian roads, and it is always sensible to protect yourself and your car with a few essential accessories.
A Dash Cam is a compact camera fitted onto your car's dashboard, recording everything taking place in the front of your car. A few high-end Dash Cams capture the rearview with the help of rear-facing cameras. This acts as a silent witness in case you are involved in an accident.
The dash cam is installed on the front windscreen, behind the interior rearview mirror, the perfect spot to capture the road in front of you. Dash Cams are equipped with a wide-angle lens, capturing the entire width of the road and the surroundings.
The recording starts as soon as the car ignition is turned on, ensuring you never miss a recording while driving your car.
The recordings are saved on an SD Card; depending on the size of the card, you will have to delete old files periodically. Some Dash Cams have a loop-recording feature, automatically deleting old files to make space for new footage.
Anyone who drives on Indian roads has encountered more than one screaming match on the road. Unfortunately, road rage and reckless driving have become part and parcel of driving in India.
In addition to rash driving, the roads are bustling with cars, bikes, auto rickshaws and animals. You never know what can happen on the road. Hence, it is safer to install a dash cam in your car to capture everything that happens on the road, protecting you in case of an accident.
Material evidence such as photos and videos are acceptable forms of evidence in a court of law. In the event of an incident, if you have got evidence, you can submit the recording from your dash cam to the court or your insurance agency to prove your innocence. In the event of road rage, you have the video proof to confront or take action against the offender.
One of the main benefits of having a dash cam is the protection it provides you in the event of an accident. Footage of an unfortunate incident can save time by determining the culprit of an accident quickly.
You cannot reduce your car insurance cost, but it can contribute indirectly to your premium. The dash cam footage will definitely come in handy when you apply for a car insurance claim.
You may find yourself in a situation where they may be looking to make a quick buck. They may throw false allegations such as jumping a red light, not wearing a seatbelt, etc. During such an event, the recording from your dash cam can prove your innocence and help you escape a tricky situation.
Bad driving history can contribute to increased car insurance premiums. If a person has a record of accidents and traffic violations against them, their insurance premium is bound to be higher compared to a person with a stellar driving record.
If you have been falsely accused in an accident, the dash cam can help prove your innocence in the court of law and to your insurance agency.
You can easily prove who was at fault for the accident. You can use the video while applying for a car insurance claim, and the footage can also prove that you're not driving recklessly.
Fraudsters are always looking for an opportunity to make a quick buck off of innocent people. Fraudsters may stage a car accident, making it look like your fault and trying to make money out of it.
If you have a dash cam installed in your car, you can submit the footage to your insurance company, claiming that you have been falsely accused. The insurance company might clear your name of all accident claims and mark the claimant as high risk, and may even charge them with high premiums. [This is subject to terms and conditions of insurance providers,rules may vary with respect to the situation]
Indian roads are not always filled with unfortunate accidents. Many cities in India are blessed with breathtaking views, and a dash cam can capture these scenes, providing you with insta-worthy videos.
For new drivers, watching yourself drive can help you identify what mistakes you are making and decide how to correct them.
Now that you have decided to buy a dash cam, the next step is to choose the perfect one for you. The multitude of options available can leave you confused. To make picking the right one easier, consider the following points while choosing your dash cam.
Video Resolution: The higher the resolution, the higher the quality of the video. Modern dashboard cameras can shoot in 4K resolution; however, they cost quite a bit. If you're on a budget, choose a dash cam that can shoot in 1080p or Full-HD resolution.
Field of View: Most dash cams come with a wide-angle lens. Check the specifications of your dash cam before purchasing. Remember, the wider the FOV, the better it is.
Chipset: A dash cam can function smoothly only with a good chipset. With an ordinary chipset, your camera may tend to lag, which can risk your camera not recording continuously. Storage: The dash cam starts recording as soon as you turn your car ignition on, which means that these video files are heavy and require quite a bit of storage space. Ideally, you would buy a camera that supports at least 34GB of data storage. Most cameras now support up to 64 GB.
GPS: The newest dash cams are integrated with a GPS tracker, which can log your vehicle speed and coordinates. This data comes in handy while analyzing the cause of an unfortunate accident.
Gyro Sensor: This sensor comes in handy in the event of a hit and run or vandalism. The sensor will enable the dash cam to save the recording and lock the camera if it senses a collision upfront. The sensor can also detect any movement when the vehicle is parked and triggers the camera to start recording.
Loop Recording: This feature comes in handy for those who have difficulty remembering to delete old footage. When the storage space runs out, the dash cam replaces the old footage with the new footage. This ensures that your camera continues to record.
Connectivity: The latest dash cams come equipped with Wi-Fi connectivity, allowing you to control the camera from your smartphone. You can download the footage directly to your smartphone as well, making this feature quite handy in tricky situations.
A dash cam can help you out of tricky situations and save you a lot of hassle when you're involved in an unfortunate incident. The footage will also come in handy during your car insurance claim process.
There are no specific laws with regards to the usage of dash cams. The Dash Cam is considered private property and meant for personal use. However, when you enter restricted areas such as defence zones, you might need permission to use the Dash Cam.
Cars do not come with a Dash Cam pre-installed; this is an additional accessory you need to purchase separately.
A Dash Cam is a worthy investment for your car, recording everything as soon as you turn on your car ignition. The footage is concrete evidence if you're involved in an accident where it is not your fault.
While Dash Cams are not wildly popular in India, drivers are choosing to install them for their safety. You can buy a Dash Cam from car accessory stores or look them up online.
Pick a location for your camera, the best spot for the camera is behind the interior rearview mirror, not disrupting your view of the road. Clean the spot you have picked before attaching the dash cam. Remove the adhesive or attach the suction cup to your windshield. Connect the dash cam to your car's cigarette lighter and make sure it is on. Take a drive around your house to ensure the camera is working and aligned correctly.
Even though installing is easy, if you're unsure about the process, visit a mechanic near you, and they will install it for you in no time.