DASH CAMS

John Sootheran explores the 'big brother' world of dash cams - with caravanners in mind...

- John Sootheran

What is a dash cam?

A dash cam is a small camera device that attaches to your dashboard or windscreen and films the view of the road ahead as you drive. The footage is typically saved to a memory card inside the device and, if needed, can be downloaded to a computer to be stored or viewed. Once the memory card is full, most dash cams automatically overwrite the oldest footage.

Using a dash cam when you're towing will give you increased peace of mind, as you will know that any incidents will be captured for use as evidence if needed.

What are they for?

On today's busy roads, dash cam footage is generally used to prove blame or establish innocence following a road traffic accident. In some circumstances, the footage may be used as evidence in third-party cases to establish culpability.

How much do they cost?

The cheapest (worthwhile) dash cams cost from around £80, and prices rise to £300.

The most expensive cameras often include a second, rear-view, camera and some units offer an in-cabin camera, too.

The more expensive cameras are likely to have a wider angle of view, better image resolution, more features, increased night vision, app control and Cloud/Bluetooth/ Wi-Fi functionality.

What should you consider when buying one?

Angle of view

This is the breadth of the view that the camera captures, and is typically from 120° to 170°. Ideally, you want it to be as wide as possible, covering the full width of the road ahead from pedestrians on the nearside pavement to vehicles passing on the opposite side of the road and as close to your car as possible. Blindspots have the potential to obscure important information. from the footage. Generally, 140° is a good choice, but be aware of the fall-off in image quality at the edges of the frame as the lens gets wider.