Advantages and Disadvantages of Dashcams
Car accidents are a common occurrence around the globe. You can often come across reckless drivers causing accidents on roads and getting away with it because of a lack of evidence. But that is a thing of the past. Nowadays technology allows you to have cameras installed on your vehicles to record everything you witness on the road during your drive. The government and law enforcement agencies encourage the use of dashcams and this little car accessory can be the answer to many of your car problems. However, there are a few pros and cons of dashcams you should keep in mind before opting for one.
How Does a Dashcam Work?
Dashcams are small windscreen-mounted cameras installed in your cars that record everything happening in front of your vehicle and in some instances what’s happening behind your vehicle as well. Dashcams are powered by the cigarette lighter cable or hardwired into the toolbox of your car. Some modern dashcams are powered by lithium-ion batteries.
Dashcams usually start recording automatically when you turn the ignition on. However, modern cams allow you to start and stop the recording as you please. You can easily get camera installation in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, or any city in the Emirates.
The Different Types of Dashcams
Like every other car accessory, dashcams have also evolved with time. There are different types of dashcams available for you to choose from. The most common types of dashcams are as follows:
BASIC DASHCAMS
Basic dashcams are the most common type of car camera. They typically sit on your car’s dashboard and sometimes hang below the rearview mirror. Basic dashcams continuously record videos and delete the old ones to make room for new footage. You get built-in removable storage in basic dashcams which gives you additional control over recorded footage. Basic dashcams are the most inexpensive car cameras available.
ADVANCED DASHCAMS
Advanced dashcams come with a series of unique features. The features include:
- Audio recording
- Speed sensors
- Accelerometers
- GPS
- Uninterruptible power supply (UPS)
GPS is one of the most valuable features of a dashcam. It can provide a video overlay of your car’s location in the event of an accident.
Speed sensors and accelerometers can give you an overview of how fast your vehicle was at the time of the accident and the change in acceleration when your car struck another vehicle.
The UPS ensures that the dashcam can still record after you turn off your car’s engine. This can be helpful for surveillance of your parked vehicle and help you avoid car battery drainage.
DUAL-CAMERA DASHCAMS
These are the most advanced types of car cameras. These dashcams usually have two cameras, one facing the front while the other facing the interior. The interior-facing cameras can be useful for parents to check their children’s driving behaviours. Additionally, these cameras can come in handy to avoid theft from your parked vehicle, even if the crook sneaks from the back to avoid the front camera, the interior camera can still catch him.
Pros and Cons of Dashcams
Dashcams have become more of a necessity than just a car accessory and there are a plethora of reasons why should you use a dashcam. They come with numerous advantages but there are some disadvantages as well which you should be aware of. Additionally, knowing the driving rules in the UAE can help you avoid conflict with the law. Let’s look at a detailed list of the pros and cons of dashcams.
PROS OF DASHCAMS
Dashcams are an accessory that has evolved with time and they can help you in many ways. Listed below are the pros of dashcams and why you should have them installed:
ADDITIONAL SECURITY
Dashcams act as an added layer of security for your cars. Not only are they good at capturing accidents on the road, but the GPS in dashcams can also be used to track your vehicle if it is stolen. Furthermore, you can avoid theft in parking areas by keeping the dashcam on.
REDUCED INSURANCE PREMIUMS
Some insurance companies give you reduced insurance premiums if you install a dashcam in your car. They see you as a person who promotes safe driving. An investment in a dashcam can lead to some discounts on insurance.
FIRST-HAND EVIDENCE
If your car is involved in an accident, dashcam footage can be your first-hand evidence to prove who was at fault on the road. The footage can come in handy in the court of law for the final verdict.
PROMOTES SAFE DRIVING
Dashcams promote safe driving as drivers are aware that their driving is being recorded. Additionally, the other drivers on the road also become cautious when they see a dashcam installed in your car.
EXTRA STORAGE
Modern dashcams come with additional storage space. They come with enough space to record for longer durations and you can also delete the old recordings to increase the storage.
RECORD ROAD TRIPS
Using your phone while driving is not only prohibited but you also can not get a proper shot in a moving vehicle. You can use your dashcams to record your road trips in good quality and make your trips memorable.
CONS OF DASHCAMS
Besides all the advantages, there are some disadvantages of dashcams which are listed below:
COULD BE DISTRACTING AT TIMES
Dashcams can sometimes be a distraction especially the ones with large screens. At times, the temptation to look at the recording footage can be hard to overcome. It is advised to install a dashcam in a non-disturbing and unobtrusive manner.
FOOTAGE CAN BE USED AGAINST YOU
You have invested a fair amount on the dashcams but your investment can backfire sometimes. In the event of an accident, the footage recorded by your dashcam can go against you if you are at fault.
INVASION OF PRIVACY
Dashcams record everything during the trips. This means you are recording many vehicles without the owner’s consent. In cabs and ride-hailing services, the passengers can also consider it a breach of privacy because the interiors of the cars are also recorded on modern dashcams.
MODERN CAMS CAN BE EXPENSIVE
Modern dashcams with better quality videos and other features can be costly to set up. Although the initial setup cost is easily outweighed by the long-term benefits of having a dashcam.
LEGAL BINDINGS
Before you install a dashcam in your car, there are certain legal limitations you must be aware of. You are not allowed to post any footage on social media. You cannot share the footage or images with anyone without the police’s permission.
Furthermore, you are not allowed to invade any person’s privacy. This can get you in trouble as it is considered a serious offence in the Emirates. According to article 378 of the UAE penal code, publishing any picture without the person’s consent can put offenders in jail for six months along with a fine of AED 500,000.
These were all the pros and cons of dashcams and the legal obligations you must know and follow. Dashcams can be helpful in more ways than one but you must not do anything contradicting the law. Additionally, you can install a rearview camera as they can also be a good addition to the accessories to improve your rented car.
Modern vehicles come with pre-installed features like a rearview camera and many more. If you are looking for a change of car, check out these used cars for sale in the UAE and have your pick.
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