Is it worth getting an in-car video camera

shaun_from_Africa

I did a fair bit of drag racing

Are you sure you're not on the wrong forum?

skiddlydiddly

No, thats me on the left.Green really brings out my eyes sweetie .

diable

shaun_from_Africa wrote: »

Absolute rubbish.
I've spent the last 15 years living and driving in many African countries (mainly Nigeria and Libya) so you have to assume that all drivers will stop sharply at any time. (and believe me, they often do)

Thats why you always drive with one hand on the handbrake and driving in those countries is not the same as driving in the UK where we have a driving test and rules and regulations.

I bet a pedestrian in those countries doesn't just step out on to a crossing knowing cars will stop for them as they know the drivers will just run them over.

diable

shaun_from_Africa wrote: »

Are you sure you're not on the wrong forum?

skiddlydiddly wrote: »

No, thats me on the left.Green really brings out my eyes sweetie .

I'd say that was a slow start you should have kept the NOS........

skiddlydiddly

diable wrote: »

I'd say that was a slow start you should have kept the NOS........

I did, can't you see me laughing?

shaun_from_Africa

I bet a pedestrian in those countries doesn't just step out on to a crossing knowing cars will stop for them as they know the drivers will just run them over.

Believe me, that's exactly what they do, except they don't bother with the crossings (where there are any), they simply step into the road.
They don't seem to realise that a ton and a half of Peugeot 504 hurts like hell when it hits you.

I was working an Nouakchott Mauritania for a few years, and the police there told me that on average there are 5 pedestrian fatalities a day, which for a small city is one hell of a lot.

pendulum

shaun_from_Africa wrote: »

The only thing putting me off getting one of those cameras is the fact that I know that sooner or later I will forget to put it out of view whilst parked and some scrote will smash a window to nick it.

Exactly why I got a 808 camera ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uj26JjSiazQ ). It's so small and discreet, it doesn't look like a camera and it doesn't look expensive (It isn't expensive! Under £30). So I just leave it on the dash most of the time.

I had a windscreen mounted one before that, that I stopped using, because I couldn't be bothered setting it up before every trip and taking it down afterwards. The 808 is way easier to use.

thegirlintheattic

Is having a cam 100% legal?

After reading these posts I am seriously considering getting one. Had a accident last year that this would have been helping in proving my innocence. Would have also helped today when so boy racer decided that a busy, country A road was the perfect place to try out his rally cornering. Nearly hit me causing me to swerve, he also almost hit the car behind me and was very lucky not to lose control and roll it. Wanted to report it to the police, but had no reg number of the car, a camera would have been great.

Flyboy152

thegirlintheattic wrote: »

Is having a cam 100% legal?

After reading these posts I am seriously considering getting one. Had a accident last year that this would have been helping in proving my innocence. Would have also helped today when so boy racer decided that a busy, country A road was the perfect place to try out his rally cornering. Nearly hit me causing me to swerve, he also almost hit the car behind me and was very lucky not to lose control and roll it. Wanted to report it to the police, but had no reg number of the car, a camera would have been great.

Yes.


.....

pendulum

thegirlintheattic wrote: »

Is having a cam 100% legal?

Yes. Think of it as like owning a camcorder or normal camera. People have ran with dash cams for years so it's nothing new, the only difference is they are getting much smaller, take clearer videos and are much cheaper so more people are installing them.

Some people do think filming in public is illegal even though it isn't. Even they can't object if they cannot even see the camera, which is why I prefer the smaller "spy" cameras, to the obvious ones, because especially if you have an accident and people notice the camera it could get awkward. They won't even notice it if you've got a small spy camera. When mine arrived I kept getting it out and waving it in my mums face and she had absolutely no idea what it was or what I was doing. I've got 10 minutes footage of her staring right at it and trying to guess what it is :rotfl: