Is it worth getting an in-car video camera

anotherbaldrick

Strider590 wrote: »

And this is the misconception.... Just as with the increasing numbers of cyclists using video camera's, it's for our own protection.

Lets say for example, your following a car with a clear 2 second + gap between you, but unbeknown to you, the muppet driving it has no brake lights (it's not due for MOT, so he/she isn't bothered).
If they brake hard, there's no two ways about it.... You WILL end up implanted in their boot.

It's not your fault, but what proof do you have?

When we (The Elder) were taught to drive, the mantra was always "drive at a distance from the car in front you can see to be clear and at which at your speed you can stop in" ie, if the car in front suddenly morphed into a brick wall you could still stop ! What happened to that ? after all being right up the car in fronts chuff never got anyone anywhere quicker and if it is me in front slower, because if anyone tailgates me I progressively slow till they drop back.

oldagetraveller

Strider590 wrote: »

First make sure you can see file extensions by going to tools, folder options, view tab, uncheck "hide file extensions for known file types".
This is hidden initially by default (which I always find really annoying), because it's often vital for helping someone locate a problem file.

Once the above is done, all of your files will appear to "change" names (do not be alarmed).

Image will become Image.jpg
Document will become Document.doc
Text Document will become Text Document.txt
The .??? extension tells your PC what program to use to open that file.

Create a new "Text Document" file on the camera's memory.
Open this document and enter all of the following code (copy paste):

echo %date:~6,4%.%date:~3,2%.%date:~0,2% %time:~0,2%:%time:~3,2%:%time:~6,2%>time.txt

echo [date] >TAG.TXT
echo %date:~6,4%/%date:~3,2%/%date:~0,2% >>TAG.TXT
echo %time:~0,2%:%time:~3,2%:%time:~6,2%=>>TAG.TXT

This create's the TAG.txt file for you, it also creates the TIME.txt file for the other version of the mini DV.
Save the file, close text editor and choose to rename the file as "time.bat".

Now double click that file and then quickly disconnect the card/camera and turn on/off the camera once/twice.

Time/date stamp should now work.

I cannot upload this script file for download because most antivirus software would not allow DOS Batch files (.bat) to be downloaded, regardless of it's contents.

Thanks for that Strider but I became lost at "file extensions" and "tools" :rotfl:I've tried using the very poor instructions included with the camera on a Win 7 laptop, a XP desktop and a Win 7 desktop to no avail. Looks like I'll have to remain stuck in 2008!

pendulum

George_Michael wrote: »

First point.
Any data recorded can be overwritten to such a degree that makes it impossible to decode.
A very simply once or twice overwrite with a secure erase program will make this info unreadable to most people, but if you give it 35 overpasses to a Gutmann standard...

It is easy to erase the data if you have the time and a computer with the correct software, but your unlikely to have any of these immediately after an accident which the police are attending. I think what vax2002 meant is that there's no way to permanently erase the data at the scene. Using the camera's option to delete the files, if it has one, won't do it. Your only hope is to hide the little memory card somewhere and claim you weren't recording at the time.

It isn't unusual to have a dash cam any more. It won't be long before the traffic police get training on what they look like and the telltale signs of having one. If that hasn't happened already!

Strider590

oldagetraveller wrote: »

Thanks for that Strider but I became lost at "file extensions" and "tools" :rotfl:I've tried using the very poor instructions included with the camera on a Win 7 laptop, a XP desktop and a Win 7 desktop to no avail. Looks like I'll have to remain stuck in 2008!

Do it manually then

Create a new text file called TAG.txt and copy/paste the following:

[date]
2011/06/20
10:49:33=

Change the date/time as appropriate, but if entering an AM time, leave a blank space, like this....

[date]
2011/06/20
9:49:33=


There must be a space after the first two lines and you must hit enter key after the =

Once done, make a copy of the file for later, disconnect and turn on/off the camera.
:cool:

Strider590

Just to answer the stupid comments RE: car without brake lights, lets move up to a 4 second gap? ok? If someone with no brake lights suddenly did an e-stop, none of the people in this forum would stop, not one of you.... By the time you'd realised they were braking it'd be far too late.

There was research done into this IIRC, you see no brake lights and your brain tells you the car is not braking = Your screwed.

Big problem with stage accidents like this in Bradford (surprise surprise), they buy an old banger, disconnect the brake lights, wait for the opportune moment and you pile on into them, the an entire family exits the car, all with whiplash injuries.

pendulum

Strider590 wrote: »

Just to answer the stupid comments RE: car without brake lights, lets move up to a 4 second gap? ok? If someone with no brake lights suddenly did an e-stop, none of the people in this forum would stop, not one of you.... By the time you'd realised they were braking it'd be far too late.

Now who's making big assumptions Strider?

In some sunny conditions, you can barely see the brake lights anyway. We all manage to stop whilst you it seems would go ploughing into the back of them. That would make a good Youtube video though wouldn't it?

With an attentive driver and a healthy 4 second gap, there's a good chance an attentive driver would notice the car change pitch under heavy braking and brake themselves. Going by the way you drive in your videos (tailgating, late braking, no anticipation, aggression) you'd have absolutely no chance.

Speak for yourself and not others.

shaun_from_Africa

lets move up to a 4 second gap? ok? If someone with no brake lights suddenly did an e-stop, none of the people in this forum would stop, not one of you

Absolute rubbish.
I've spent the last 15 years living and driving in many African countries (mainly Nigeria and Libya), and to actually see a car with working lights is a novelty.
How many rear end accidents have I or any of the 12 people I work with had in this time?
NONE, and this is despite the many taxis there slamming on the brakes every time they think they may get a fare.

Just because your reaction time isn't very good, don't assume that everyone else is the same as you.

Edited to add that the taxis aren't recognisable as such. They don't have signs or lights and are just ordinary cars, so you have to assume that all drivers will stop sharply at any time. (and believe me, they often do)

mikey72

Strider590 wrote: »

Just to answer the stupid comments RE: car without brake lights, lets move up to a 4 second gap? ok? If someone with no brake lights suddenly did an e-stop, none of the people in this forum would stop, not one of you.... By the time you'd realised they were braking it'd be far too late.

There was research done into this IIRC, you see no brake lights and your brain tells you the car is not braking = Your screwed.

Big problem with stage accidents like this in Bradford (surprise surprise), they buy an old banger, disconnect the brake lights, wait for the opportune moment and you pile on into them, the an entire family exits the car, all with whiplash injuries.

I think we agree on one thing here.
You attention and driving is so poor you wouldn't stop.
We've seen similar in your videos.
But, as you said earlier, don't assume we're all down to your standard.
"See the car in front getting a lot closer, brain tells you car is braking, do the same"

George_Michael

There was research done into this IIRC, you see no brake lights and your brain tells you the car is not braking = Your screwed.

Or you see no brake lights but your eyes tell your brain that you are getting closer to the car in front so you brake or swerve = you're not screwed.
If you honestly have to rely on brake lights to tell you that the vehicle in front of you is stopping or slowing down, maybe you should consider another form of transport.

oldagetraveller

Strider590 wrote: »

Do it manually then

Create a new text file called TAG.txt and copy/paste the following:

[date]
2011/06/20
10:49:33=

Change the date/time as appropriate, but if entering an AM time, leave a blank space, like this....

[date]
2011/06/20
9:49:33=


There must be a space after the first two lines and you must hit enter key after the =

Once done, make a copy of the file for later, disconnect and turn on/off the camera.
:cool:

Sorry Strider but I really am struggling with this. Where do I create this file? Does the micro sd card need to be in the camera?
The instructions state to create the file, as you advise but with no = ,no mention of a space for am or mention of "enter", in Notepad, I don't have Notepad on this p.c. It's on the XP machine but after attempting to following the camera's instructions to the letter the date doesn't change. Then to save to desktop and drag the TAG.TXT file to the "root directory" of the camera. There's no apparent root directory in the camera? There's a DCIM folder on the sd card.
Maybe I should be asking all this in the "techie" section and not hi-jacking this thread?