Should Dashcams Be The Next Safety Requirement?

"Lomac" (lomac) 07/29/2015 at 18:55 • Filed to: None

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Dashcams. Whether you’re a viewing member of Jalopnik, a regular poster on your favourite local car forum, or even just a viewer hoard on YouTube, chances are you’re all familiar with dashcams. There’s no dispute that they can save your ass when it comes to an insurance claim. Mine has even saved me from a deductible after a hit-and-run.

So, this begs the question: Why aren’t more insurance companies pushing for them? And, on a larger scale, why aren’t the being built into modern cars?

On the insurance end, it will help adjusters immensely when it comes to determining at-fault decisions. Did that car really rear end someone or was it the result of someone accidentally going into reverse? Is that hit-and-run genuine or did someone actually hit a pole and are hoping to claim the incident in a way that wont impact their premiums? Was the person of a fatal collision speeding at twice the limit right before the accident? Sure, many cars now have a black box that record the last few seconds prior to an accident, but actual visual references can go a long way when it comes to reading pure numbers off a spreadsheet.

And on the privacy end, simply because I know some people will automatically go there, there’s already regulations in place that allow video recording on public roads. You know all those b-roll shots in films and TV shows that are of a busy New York street or a quaint town in the middle of nowhere? If you’re out in public, there’s no need for release forms before you’re shown on screen (I know this is a simplistic view on it, but it’s generally correct). It’s only once you pull up onto private property that recording changes. So, if that’s the case, why not set up your car so that once the GPS tracks you onto your property, it ends recording mode. Or, for when you take a car in for repairs at a garage, have a “privacy mode” that also turns off the camera when it’s up on the hoist in a shop.

Many cars now have multiple cameras, and with the law requiring reverse cameras shortly coming into effect, why not combine this requirement with something that (most) people could easily get behind?

What’s the logical argument against it?

CB > Lomac 07/29/2015 at 19:00

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Privacy would be an issue (consider the most recent issues with connected cars and Chrysler) and people might not want things they’ve recorded to be used against them. That’s all I got.

JGrabowMSt > Lomac 07/29/2015 at 19:02

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WwwWhen I had my accident back in December, I shared my dashcam footage which cleared me for everything, and proved that the other driver was at fault. After talking to enough departments I finally spoke to someone who told me that after seeing my footage, several employees had bought dash cams just like mine.

I recently upgraded to a new dash cam with GPS location and speed as well. I will be calling my insurance company about how it affects my rate as soon as Im able to.

I fully agree though, dashcams should be required. Maybe not GPS ones, but something that shows what happened in the event of a collision or hit and run.

Lomac > CB 07/29/2015 at 19:04

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Maybe the fact that there’s now a camera recording would change their driving habits. That said, I have dashcams rolling all the time and that still doesn’t stop me from the occasional spirited drive on the twisties or pushing the speed limit envelope on the highway. :p

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > Lomac 07/29/2015 at 19:06

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Privacy

/thread

CB > Lomac 07/29/2015 at 19:09

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Maybe. But it’s a similar reason as to why I don’t want one of those insurance black boxes that sends data back to your company: I really don’t want to give up that amount of privacy. Like, if I wanted a dashcam, I’d get one, but I wouldn’t really want one forced on me.

Brian, The Life of > Lomac 07/29/2015 at 19:09

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Requirement? No. Optional gadget which is totally under the vehicle owner’s control? Sure! Insurance Cos could even forgive your deductible if you hand over the incident recording from your camera. This might really help them with subrogation. Or hurt them ;)

Lomac > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 07/29/2015 at 19:16

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Privacy to what end, though? As already mentioned, when you’re out in public, there’s really no real “right” to privacy.

Lomac > Brian, The Life of 07/29/2015 at 19:18

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I’m okay with it being an optional extra, especially if insurers are willing to give discounts if your car comes with one. Personally I think it’s just something so simple that manufacturers could easily add into their list of electronic doodads to lure more cusomters. I’m sure the cost would be pennies on the dollar for adding it in.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > Lomac 07/29/2015 at 19:18

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True, but it’s not like everyone is watching you with cameras and phones and such; at least, to my mind. I just don’t like the thought of it being standard or mandatory.

Lomac > CB 07/29/2015 at 19:21

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Not sure how it works in the States, but I believe up here in BC insurance companies need legal clearance before they can access it. Don’t see why dashcam footage wouldn’t be the same. Just because video footage gets recorded, it doesn’t mean it’s being constantly uploaded to some central server or that anyone would have access to it in the car without proper clearance.

Or, alternatively, install on/off switch.

CB > Lomac 07/29/2015 at 19:23

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Oh, I’m not in the States, I’m in Ontario. And fair point, but still, video footage of everywhere and everything I do? I’m not comfortable with that.

Lomac > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 07/29/2015 at 19:24

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Fair enough. I’m not advocating here that it should be mandatory equipment; rather, I’m just curious what other people would think about it. I run dashcams in my car because I find it to be beneficial to myself. Sure, there’s always a chance that I may do something stupid and it ends up being used against me. However, I feel the pro’s definitely outweigh whatever cons there are.

But, again, that’s just me. Everyone is entitled to their own thoughts and feelings on every topic!

Lomac > CB 07/29/2015 at 19:26

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Fair enough. I just assume 100% of the posters on Oppo/Jalop that aren’t me are Americans. :p

But I concede your point. I’m alright with everything I do in my car being recorded, but I recognize other people don’t feel the same way.

CB > Lomac 07/29/2015 at 19:27

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I just recognize that rules and regulations are great if people follow them. Which people and corporations don’t always do.

nFamousCJ - Keeper of Stringbean, Gengars and a Deezul > Lomac 07/29/2015 at 19:29

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I think the concern would be who has access to said video. What if you were pulling into your driveway and your lady friend was waiting in the garage for your arrival. Welp now she’s been recorded by the dash cam- could be a concern.

TylerLinner > Lomac 07/29/2015 at 19:35

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No, absolutely not. You know why?

-Everyone is free to buy one by themselves already.

-If someone hit-and-runs you, and they have a dash cam rolling, they’re not going to be calling the cops on themselves. If (insert your older sports car here) doesn’t have a dash cam, you’re screwed.

-If every car is required to have a dash cam, there is a slippery slope to a complete loss of privacy.

-Another piece of electronics and crap in your car is just going to make it heavier, slower and less efficient.

-As already stated, no one is stopping you from buying one.

*goes into the garage and caresses his carburetor*

Lomac > TylerLinner 07/29/2015 at 19:47

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To be fair, a dashcam is probably lighter than the tools stored in the trunk that are needed to perform a roadside repair on a carb. :p

Jokes aside, this whole emphasis on privacy kinda boggles me. I know every country has different laws, but after working in the media and film industry for years and understanding the regulations behind what can and can’t be filmed without disrupting privacy laws, I think most people would be quite surprised at how large of a scope privacy laws don’t cover. (this isn’t really directed to you, perse; you just happened to be the one I replied to with this comment.)

Of course older cars aren’t going to come with a dashcam anymore than a C2 ‘Vette will be retrofitted with an OBD2 compliant system, so then you’d be on your own for picking up a dashcam if you wanted one. As I mentioned in another comment, I run dashcams because I feel the pros outweigh the cons, especially since very few people are willing to accept responsibility for their own actions.

TylerLinner > Lomac 07/29/2015 at 19:55

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Yeah, I know that the camera would be small, but many small things add up to big things and that’s why our cars today weigh so much. Oh, an extra bracket there and a servo here won’t hurt anything! I also know that people can take pictures and video basically whenever they like, and that’s a separate issue entirely.

I’m not against having dash cams built into cars, or offered as options, but I will fight to make sure they are not required. To require them would be to stick the nose of the insurance company, government, state and local police and potential “hackers” into your daily life even more than it is with a cell phone already.

That’s why I say, if you want one, go for it. But do not require it. :)

TheD0k_2many toys 2little time > Lomac 07/30/2015 at 00:27

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never had one and probably never will. don’t see a reason for one. also I have been on the receiving end of a hit and run. still wouldn’t have helped me

Old-Busted-Hotness > Lomac 07/30/2015 at 07:02

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Safety regs are enacted to benefit the insurance companies. Anything that prevents them from boning their customers ain’t gonna fly.

Airbags are cheaper than medical claims. ABS and ESC reduce accidents. They save the insurance companies money, so they are required. The insurance lobby is powerful. Remember the 5-mph bumpers from the 1970’s? Another insurance-company mandate.