How to use a dash cam to stay safe on the road
2.3 million vehicle insurance claims were settled in the UK in 2022, but in the heat of the moment, it is easy to miss what happened in an accident. A dash cam can be your eyes on the road when you need it most and help settle disputes and claims in your favour.
This guide explains what a dash cam is, how to use it to protect yourself in the event of an accident and what types of dash cams will best suit your needs.
What is a dash cam?
A dash cam is a small video camera that is mounted on the inside of your car windscreen out of the driver’s line of sight. This forward-facing camera utilises a wide-angle lens to record everything in front of you as you drive, while a rear-facing camera can also be fitted to record everything happening behind your vehicle.
Some dash cams turn on when you start your engine and record your entire journey, but it is also possible to get dash cams that record everything around your vehicle when you are parked, providing additional security should somebody accidentally damage or try to break into your vehicle while you are away.
Should an incident occur you can use your tamper-proof time-stamped video footage as evidence to settle disputes quickly. It can often come down to your word against theirs and having footage that proves the other party was at fault could even mean you may not even need to pay the excess on your insurance policy.
Why install a dash cam?
According to government figures, there are around 8 million dash cams on UK roads which works out roughly as 1 in 5 UK drivers now have a dash cam fitted and the numbers rising quickly.
They are becoming so popular because they are a highly effective way of finding out who was at fault in an accident.
Police can use dash cam footage to catch and stop those perpetrating ‘crash for cash’ scams, preventing them from targeting others in the future.
An increase in dash cam ownership encourages better driving and the police have partnered with dash cam manufacturer Road Angel to put more ‘eyes’ on the road to help them identify bad driving.
The benefits of dash cam ownership can even start from the moment you install the camera as many insurers offer annual discounts on insurance premiums if you have a dash cam installed.
What type of dash cam do I need?
The most important job of a dash cam is to capture the footage you need in the quality you need so everything is visible and crystal clear including number plate recognition.
A dash cam like the Road Angel Halo Ultra 4k provides continuous recording so you never miss a moment at an ultra-high-definition resolution which means no detail will be missed.
All dash cams record at night, but it is important to choose one with the latest sensors for enhanced picture quality even in low light conditions.
Dash cams that come with a hardwiring kit can offer the additional protection of parking mode, recording 24/7 to deter thieves and catch anyone who bumps into your vehicle when you’re not around.With distracted driving on the rise, it’s also important to consider in-vehicle distractions, so it can be sensible to choose a dash cam that operates without a screen. Road Angel offers a wide range of screenless dash cams that provide peace of mind without being obtrusive.
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