Why You Should Run A Front And Rear Dash Cam

The arguments for operating a dash cam in one’s car is as clear as the video footage the camera is supposed to capture. While few of us like to think about the possibility of a wreck happening whilst we’re behind the wheel, sheer statistics and laws of averages dictate that something is probably going to occur at some point in our driving careers.

After all, one can be an expert driver, but it is impossible to guard against all the bad drivers out there who treat their morning commute as an opportunity to eat a full breakfast and catch up on social media. And even if that doesn’t happen, there’s always a chance your camera will pick up someone else’s boneheaded driving maneuver which you can upload to YouTube with the hopes of going viral.

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So that’s the view ahead sorted. But what about what’s happening astern? Records show an alarming number of rear-end collisions on our roads, some of which are brought on by inattention while others are caused by poor road conditions and the like. Having a near 360-degree visual record of what’s going on around your car can offer ironclad proof to those who are trying to figure out who’s at fault in a collision.

Rear-facing cameras generally tie into the main unit that’s peering forward, generally via a tangle of wires which should be safely tucked away behind trim pieces instead of being left to hang like errant Christmas lights. Make sure the connections are robust and secure; it would be frustrating in the extreme if one were to try and review footage after an incident only to find nothing was captured because the camera was getting intermittent power. This is why it is also important not to pinch any of the wiring being tucked safely behind the car’s interior trim.

Speaking of interior, some upmarket dash cams now also have the option to peer inside the cabin, recording driver and passenger whenever the main camera is turned on and capturing video. Numerous variants of this exist, with the most popular one being a lens attached to the same piece of plastic housing the forward-facing cam. This is a great space-saving solution which works well since it doesn’t require much (if any) extra wiring nor any extra power source. A great example of this is the Vantrue Nexus 4 Pro.

Good cameras of this type are preferred by drivers who work for rideshare companies, allowing them to keep tabs on their fares in case something goes awry. It is encouraged that anyone planning to record passengers brush up on local laws for doing so, as signs and the like announcing the presence of a camera may be required in some places. Look for a cabin camera which has the ability to capture high-quality video in low light conditions, preferably one with at least four infrared LED lights serving as aids to night vision permitting it to capture clear black and white video.

Other tech to look for in a top-tier dash cam is CMOS image sensor in the forward-facing camera. This is a semiconductor that takes images of objects by extracting light, captured by a lens, as electrical signals for each pixel. When translated into plain English, that technobabble basically means the camera is capable, when combined with 4K HDR guts, picking up license plates with alarming clarity and sharpness. This is a boon for identification in heavy traffic or poor driving conditions, allowing the driver (or investigator) to easily see such details when reviewing footage during an investigation. And for those of us who aren’t perpetually cynical and plan on using our shiny new dash cams for purposes other than nailing another motorist to the wall over a legal spat, this technology will also permit the crisp capture of areas around a racetrack such as signage and the like which gearheads can then remember as landmarks for turn-in or braking points.

Rearward facing dash cams (which actually don’t need the ‘dash’ part of that moniker thanks to its location on the back window, come to think of it) generally have a wider field of view than other cameras in the car, often up to 165 degrees. This is actually nearly as much if not more than a healthy human eye and is due to manufacturers realizing they can get away with a slightly larger housing for a rear-facing cam since there is no danger of it being in a driver’s forward line of sight like a traditional dash cam which peers in that direction.

All-around coverage is great for sporting events. Turns out it’s useful in the dash cam world, as well.