Dashcam Makes You A Worse Driver?

"Thunder" (Thunder)
02/07/2019 at 11:13 • Filed to: Dashcam, dash cams

I can’t recall now where I read a story saying basically “don’t get a dashcam, because you will then be trying to do impressive stuff all the time”.

Personally, I feel naked now without a dashcam running. I’ve had a series of them in my car for the last few years. I haven’t changed my driving at all because of it - in fact, I all but forget it’s there.

I was rear-ended a year or so ago; my dashcam footage let me show the responding officer that I was correct in my statement that I was at a full stop when the other driver hit me.

I had my wife’s car (without dashcam) when a pretty good accident occurred directly in front of me (close enough that I examined the front of her car to see if it caught any debris). I wished then I had had my car, to be able to provide the not-at-fault driver with some beautiful proof he wasn’t at fault.

It’s similar to my radar detector: I’ve had one hardwired in my cars for probably most of 25 years now. Having it hasn’t changed how fast I drive, it’s just made me feel a bit better about it. When it beeps, I may reduce my speed by a few MPH, but I didn’t install it then cruise any faster.

Anyway, I strongly advocate having a dashcam, and don’t believe having one has had the slightest negative effect on my driving.

DISCUSSION (16)

Rainbow > Thunder
02/07/2019 at 11:26

There are a handful of people on YouTube who intentionally throw defensive driving out the window just for the views and/ or insurance fraud.

WilliamsSW > Thunder
02/07/2019 at 11:31

If anything, it would make me a bit more careful, since I know I’m being “watched” - and the whole point of the dash cam would be to use it to defend myself in an accident (not incriminate me, duh).

* Note -I’m an old, and have zero desire to be a YouTube star.

Future next gen S2000 owner > Thunder
02/07/2019 at 11:32

Stupid people will always be stupid and say stupid things. It is best to ignore them. Until they post their videos on Youtube. Then, feel free to laugh.

Just Jeepin' > Thunder
02/07/2019 at 11:34

When I (briefly, it sucked) added a dashcam I suddenly got paranoid about my driving. I felt as though someone were watching over my shoulder, and I didn’t particularly like what I thought they’d see.

Even though I’ve abandoned it for now, I still try to be more aware of the decisions I make.

The fact that I drive a slow boat instead of a sports car might help explain my reaction as well. And the fact that I’m an old fart. Maybe if I’d had a fast car when I was younger I might have gotten more stupid.

promoted by the color red > Thunder
02/07/2019 at 11:35

Related: Grand Theft Auto is the best Russian dashcam simulator.

facw > Rainbow
02/07/2019 at 11:38

Yeah, I’m thinking of that yellow H ummer guy who’s clearly trying to cause collisions in any situation where he could argue he had the right away.

Personally though, I don’t see it changing my driving at all, I just leave it up there and forget it. I certainly don’t think of it as an action cam.

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > Thunder
02/07/2019 at 11:39

I agree with having a dashcam. Although, I find as an adjuster, that clips only get you so far. You need context.

See this clip from my Kia earlier this week as an example. You have no idea what is happening in it. Without the context, it looks like I am about to be arrested.

Kinja'd!!!

Rainbow > facw
02/07/2019 at 11:40

Agreed. I drive just the same as I always have. I’m just saying that some people out there think it gives them immunity.

Urambo Tauro > Thunder
02/07/2019 at 11:47

Running a dashcam has made me try harder to adhere more strictly to the sp eed limit . Does that count?

Mercedes Streeter > Rainbow
02/07/2019 at 11:57

I hate dashcam compilations for that very reason. A car pulls out in front of you and you have well more than enough distance to slowly reduce speed?

Nope! T he other guy’s wrong, so accelerate a little, w ait until the very last possible second, then slam on your brakes and yell profanities at the driver .

Car accidentally changes lanes into your lane? Slam on your brakes, skid, then start screaming until you get an aneurysm.

I’ve noticed motorcycle compilations go similar, but even dumber as the motorcyclist is often the one in the wrong. Going 80 in a 40 and someone who misjudged your reckless speed pulls out in front of you? Time to punch out their mirrors! I’ve even seen a few where a biker punched out windows of cars that cut him off. Yep, that’ll surely teach that driver a lesson. Be sure to post it on the Internet, too!

Urambo Tauro > facw
02/07/2019 at 12:04

That guy, yeah... I mean I guess I kind of understand where he’s coming from, but it’s still care less driving to some extent . He’s not trying to cause collisions, but he i s more than willing to just let them happen. Part of me really enjoys watching the other drivers reap the natural consequences of their actions, but it bothers me how easily he could have avoided thos e crashes altogether. I’m not going to defend the other drivers, but h is dashcam really does need to show him attempting to brake more .

Thunder > WilliamsSW
02/07/2019 at 12:10

Me too, at 43.

I see enough on-the-road stupidity that I feel better knowing I’ll have documentation that I was in fact doing the right thing. I may instead capture my own stupidity, but I think the odds are in my favor.

O n occasion I’ll recognize that I’ve gotten into a more aggressive driving style, and back off, but I don’t think the presence or absence of a dashcam affects that.

facw > Urambo Tauro
02/07/2019 at 12:12

I’m pretty sure he is trying to cause them.

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > Thunder
02/07/2019 at 12:20

If anything I think having a dashcam would make me a safer driver.

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > WilliamsSW
02/07/2019 at 12:21

Same here, not really old though, just old at heart.

merged-5876237249235911857-hrw8uc > Thunder
02/07/2019 at 12:27

I forget all about mine most of the time. So I don’t think it makes one a better or worse driver. And I wholeheartedly agree with the radar detector sentiment as well. I don’t drive any faster, but it’s nice to know when radar is out there.