That's it, I'm Buying a Dash Cam.

"Garrett Davis" (GarrettDavis)
06/16/2014 at 17:17 • Filed to: None

So I'm driving with my lady yesterday on our way to her grandparent's house to change the oil on their car (the shop they took it to overfilled it along with some other issues), and to have some dinner.

We're merging into the carpool lane behind a new-ish Nissan Maxima, who is parallel with a Camry who was already in the lane. I make a comment that one of them is going to have to either accelerate or brake because the left lane is merging. Before I can even finish my sentence the Maxima (who had been gradually drifting towards the left lane) suddenly notices the car literally even with them and slams on the brakes and swerves into the painted median, barreling right towards a collection of impact barrels like you see above.

What the fuck.

I hit my brakes and get into the furthest left carpool lane (there are two) just in time to avoid a hubcap that the Nissan kicked up from the median, and he/she slots into the lane next to me just in time to miss the impact barrels.

Not just for instances like this (which could have ended horribly), but for things like !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! who attempted insurance fraud on a guy with a dash cam. If you haven't read the article, basically 5 witnesses confirmed that the driver had indeed hit the young man, and no one believed him until he showed the dash cam footage. That makes me wonder how often this sort of thing happens and people have no way of proving it.

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Anyone on here have one they can recommend? I've been searching around, and !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , I have a decent idea on what to look for. !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! also did a good review of a bunch of them.

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DISCUSSION (34)

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Garrett Davis
06/16/2014 at 17:23

I got cut off within an inch of my life the other day on an expressway. Actually, it would've been half cutoff, half sideswipe, because the bed of the offending pickup was even with my front end. Thank god my car has the loudest horn this side of a Mercedes Grosser, but I still think I'm getting a dashcam.

TheD0k_2many toys 2little time > Garrett Davis
06/16/2014 at 17:24

I have a buddy that just uses a go pro he already had as his. seems to work pretty good

STREPITUS > Garrett Davis
06/16/2014 at 17:25

I highly recommend the Mini 0801. My dad has it in his car. A bunch of my friends have it. And I will be getting it as soon as my current camera dies.

Garrett Davis > STREPITUS
06/16/2014 at 17:28

Awesome, I'll look into that.

Garrett Davis > TheD0k_2many toys 2little time
06/16/2014 at 17:29

I was thinking about that, but I'd want a setup that turns on with the car, records automatically, and overwrites unneeded data automatically.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Garrett Davis
06/16/2014 at 17:33

OH MY GOD THIS REMINDED ME OF THIS LADY EARLIER.

She was driving a Chevy Sonic. She kept reaching over into the passenger seat to look at something, I can only assume a map. We're going up this long, straight road by my house, and she starts drifting towards the curb. She notices and whips back straight, no big deal.

We then get to the stop sign at the top, which you either have to go left or right at. She looks back down, doesn't hit the brakes hard enough, and rolls into the intersection and doesn't notice for at least 20 seconds! She then whips right and almost hits a car stopped at the stop sign because she's that far in the intersection. The guy has to back up and she continues on her merry, idiotic way. At this point I decided I was taking the long way to Lowes and start to follow her.

We get through a neighborhood no problem, except she rolled right through a stop sign. Then we get on this curvy road, where she ends up in the opposing lane with a truck coming. At this point I think I'm going to witness a deadly accident. She notices and whips back over into the right lane, almost going into the ditch on the other side.

Then we get up to the stop light at the end of the road where it's red. Turns green, she sits there, I have to honk for a good 5 seconds to get her attention. She goes, gets in the far lane, then darts across 2 lanes to get to the highway on ramp that she was about to miss. I can only assume she was trying to look at a map to go to the Airport.

I think it's time I buy a dash cam as well.

Garrett Davis > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
06/16/2014 at 17:39

I would have called the cops to report a possible drunk driver. I have an (former, thank god) alcoholic relative who would drive around in the middle of the day going all over the road, parking on sidewalks, etc. These people are a serious danger.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Garrett Davis
06/16/2014 at 17:40

I don't think she was drunk though, just an oblivious bimbo looking at a map trying to get to the airport.

Moves-Like-Senna > Garrett Davis
06/16/2014 at 17:43

Props to you. I thought I was the only one that calls the cops when I see possible drunk drivers.

Vicente Esteve > Garrett Davis
06/16/2014 at 17:48

I have a question because I too would like one. You ALWAYS have these kinds of adventures in Mexico, I think its worth to record.

1. When does the camera start/stop recording?

2. Where can I see everything that has been recording?

3. When does the memory or space run out?

4. About how much can it record without erasing things?

These may be dumb questions, but they are also stupid. Thanks

Racescort666 > Garrett Davis
06/16/2014 at 17:48

As I was reading his story I was thinking exactly the same thing. Call her in for DWI.

Garrett Davis > Moves-Like-Senna
06/16/2014 at 17:49

Gotta do it, man. I have no sympathy for the harsh DUI penalties — even to my friends who have gotten them. I have too many alcoholics in my family, and a former co-worker who is one step above a vegetable now because of a drunk driver.

wildbill > STREPITUS
06/16/2014 at 17:49

i got one too - its legit

Garrett Davis > Vicente Esteve
06/16/2014 at 17:54

A properly setup dash cam will work like a lot like a home or business security cam system:

1. It starts recording once it receives power from the ignition

2. Everything it records is saved on a memory card of your choosing. Usually up to 32 or 64gb.

3. and 4. The camera will automatically overwrite unneeded footage. This might be every day, or what ever interval it states. Some let you choose how long, others have a set time. If something happens, you just pull out the memory card and retrieve the footage you need.

Vicente Esteve > Garrett Davis
06/16/2014 at 17:56

Perfect. So, if I see and record todays happening (for example, a bird that took a shit on a Miata driver with the roof down), when I get home I just take the memory and plug it in so it can erase itself and record the thing for the next day?

Roberto G. > Garrett Davis
06/16/2014 at 17:57

And then you change your name to Ivan Davisovic Garrettev, and start posting your clips to YouTube. Na zdarovie!

Garrett Davis > Roberto G.
06/16/2014 at 18:02

Da!

Garrett Davis > Vicente Esteve
06/16/2014 at 18:03

Exactly! And now with the advent of flash memory, it's pretty much foolproof. I think they even have ones with WiFi connections that automatically sync the data with your home computer every night. That might be for a different application, but it's a similar concept.

Vicente Esteve > Garrett Davis
06/16/2014 at 18:08

Thanks! this is great information. Where can I buy one?

Garrett Davis > Vicente Esteve
06/16/2014 at 18:10

Start here: http://thewirecutter.com/reviews/best-d…

Vicente Esteve > Garrett Davis
06/16/2014 at 18:20

Damn, they are much cheaper than I thought! You think I could also use it for exterior film. Like, when I ride my quad in the beach? Sorry for the questions.

Garrett Davis > Vicente Esteve
06/16/2014 at 18:28

I'd recommend a GoPro for that. They don't have the auto-overwrite features or record on ignition, but they are much higher quality than most specifically designed dash cams, are worlds more durable, and have proper mounting options for something as rugged as a quad. A lot of dash cams just use weak suction cups or double sided tape because they don't have to take a whole lot of stress, but GoPro mounts will survive tidal waves.

These are also quite a bit more expensive, but are an absolute steal for what they can do. http://www.amazon.com/GoPro-Hero3-Ed…

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Vicente Esteve > Garrett Davis
06/16/2014 at 18:34

Yes, I have been so tempted. I guess Its Go Pro or nothing. Its just the way they make you pay for every accesory, and they cost a fortune!

Garrett Davis > Vicente Esteve
06/16/2014 at 18:42

True, it gets expensive. Still, if that allows them to drive down the prices of their great cameras, then I'm OK with that.

Vicente Esteve > Garrett Davis
06/16/2014 at 19:19

Same, I just hope I dont get the camera stolen or something if I leave it there.

Garrett Davis > Vicente Esteve
06/16/2014 at 19:25

That's why I'm hoping I can wire mine up through the headliner and have it up near my rear view mirror. Hopefully it can get a good enough angler there, and it should be much more out of sight that way.

Vicente Esteve > Garrett Davis
06/16/2014 at 19:27

Good plan, haha, it would be cool to mak a mounting point in the sunglass holder, so you just push to hide.

Garrett Davis > Vicente Esteve
06/16/2014 at 19:29

That's a good idea. Too bad mine is right in front of the mirror and could block it. Otherwise I'd steal that idea in a second.

Vicente Esteve > Garrett Davis
06/16/2014 at 19:37

I dont even have a sunglass holder! You can have the idea

Takuro Spirit > Garrett Davis
06/16/2014 at 19:53

Heh, and here I am catching nothing noteworthy on my dashcam for the first time in over a week of daily uploads.

Garrett Davis > Takuro Spirit
06/16/2014 at 19:57

It'll all be worthy it when you catch something like mentioned above — especially if someone tries to defraud you. It's kind of like renter's insurance, most people ignore it, but it paid off huge for me a few years ago when my truck was broken into and had ~$1,700 of damage done and tools stolen. I would have just been out that money, but since I pay $150 a year for renter's insurance, I was paid in full.

Moves-Like-Senna > Garrett Davis
06/16/2014 at 21:08

I completely understand. I'm sorry about your co-worker and family. I have had the same problems.

STREPITUS > Garrett Davis
06/19/2014 at 17:45

I take back my previous recommendation. Get the 0803 instead!

Garrett Davis > STREPITUS
06/19/2014 at 18:30

Awesome, thanks for the update! Great video as well.