The Pros and Cons of Using Dash Cams

Alex N.
The Pros and Cons of Using Dash Cams
There’s no denying the fact that having a dash-mounted camera installed in your vehicle can bring you a lot of peace of mind. This is especially true when you consider that every year, more than 38,000 people are killed in crashes in the United States alone, with another 4.4 million people being injured badly enough to require emergency medical attention. On top of this, in most large cities, road rage incidents during rush hour traffic have, sadly, only increased with time. Nowadays, this has become somewhat of a normal facet of a daily commute to work. These incidents often lead people to wonder if buying a dash cam is worth the time, effort, and money. Therefore, we’ve put together the following article on the pros and cons of having a dashcam installed in your vehicle, which we hope will help you decide if purchasing one is right for you.

THE BENEFITS OF A DASH CAM 

According to a study by Esurance, roughly 77% of drivers surveyed had been involved in at least one car accident. Furthermore, they estimate that for every 1,000 miles driven, your chances of being in a car accident are somewhere around 1 in 366. In other words, for every 366 vehicles on the road, one of them is bound to be in an accident. Therefore, having a dashcam installed can bring you invaluable peace of mind knowing that in the event of an accident caused by another driver’s carelessness, you’ll have video evidence of the incident to help protect your innocence. With that said, one of the biggest benefits of using a dashcam is that it will help make the road a safer place for both yourself as a driver, as well as any other drivers that may be involved in an accident that you capture on camera. Additionally, although insurance companies don’t typically require drivers to have dash cams installed, some companies might offer discounts or incentives to drivers who do. So, for those whose insurance providers do offer these types of incentives, having a dashcam installed will not only protect you in the event of a crash or road rage incident, but it can also save you money! 

THE DISADVANTGES OF A OWNING A DASH CAM 

Although dash cams are great for protecting you in the event of a no-fault accident, the truth is that a dash cam can also make your vehicle somewhat of a target for crooks and criminals. Seeing a dash camera could make a suspicious individual think there may be something valuable in the car, especially if you park on a busy street that gets a lot of foot traffic. Unfortunately, some higher-end dash cams do come with higher price tags, with some requiring professional installation. As an alternative, some people use expensive, name-brand GoPro cameras as their dash cams, which make for a rather tempting target for sticky fingers. Of course, there are many budget-friendly dash cams available online, but cheaper cams tend to not work quite as well as higher-priced models. They also often won’t record in as high of a definition, and they don’t always come with the same features that their higher-end counterparts usually have. One such major feature you should always look for is a G-sensor, meant to sense if a significant shock to the system occurs, which would then also grab the few moments before and after the incident so new recordings cannot overwrite it. So, if you’re looking to purchase, we strongly recommend investing in a good-quality dashcam.

IS BUYING A DASH CAM WORTH IT?

While some drivers can believe that a dashboard camera isn’t all that useful or practical and that it’s not worth the cost, other drivers know that having a dashcam is an invaluable tool to have in their vehicle. The fact is, in the event of a no-fault accident, accident footage can be beneficial for protecting your innocence in court. Plus, having a dashboard camera might even be able to save you money on your insurance premiums. In the end, for anyone who spends a lot of time on the road, such as a trucker or a delivery person, a dash cam can be indispensable for keeping you safe and protected in case of an accident or road rage incident. Even for those who don’t spend as much time on the road, having a dashcam in your vehicle offers the peace of mind that we all want while on the road.