Dash Cams, car cams, or vehicle video recorders are cameras installed in cars, trucks, and other vehicles.
They are usually placed on the windshield of the vehicle and record the driver’s eye view of the road ahead.
However, they can also be placed at multiple locations to get the cabin view and all-around view of the vehicle.
Modern dash cams record the surroundings of the vehicle both when in motion and when it is parked. They are a blessing for transportation businesses as fleet managers can keep an eye on the whereabouts of the vehicles. However, a majority of fleet owners stay away from them because of dash cam prices.
It is important to note that the long-term benefits of installing these devices outweigh the costs.
Dashcams are a critical part of the fleet management system. They not only help you to protect your assets but also are a critical tool to protect your employees.
There is a huge variety of dashcams in the market. It is essential to choose the right cameras with specific features required for your vehicles.
To choose the best dash cam for your vehicles, it is essential to understand the key features of a good dashcam.
Key features to look in dashcams
- High-resolution image capture – Dash cams should have high-resolution image capture capability to ensure that you get clear recordings of the surroundings. New generation dash cams have capabilities up to 4K. It is advisable to buy a camera with at least 1080p HD resolution to get clear footage of the vehicle.
- Field-of-view – The field-of-view of a dashcam is basically how wide the camera can see. Most advanced dash cams provide a 180-degree field of view. Trucks should ideally have cameras with a wide field of view to ensure that all critical data is captured.
- Night vision – Trucks travel even during night shifts. It is important to ensure that the dashcam has night vision lenses that can capture recordings in pitch darkness or sharp brightness.
- Frames Per Second – Frame rates are an important feature to consider while buying dash cams. The standard frame rate for dashcams is 30 frames per second. Some high-end cameras have a frame rate of 60 frames per second, which provides a smooth recording of the footage. However, the higher the frame rate, the higher storage the footage takes up.
- Dual facing cameras– Earlier dash cams only provided a driver’s eye view of the road ahead but modern dash cams come with multiple cameras. They can provide a 360-degree view of the vehicle that includes both the road view and cabin view.
- GPS tracking – Modern-day dash cams are equipped with built-in GPS tracking devices for trucks. They can be integrated into the fleet management systems to check the vehicle location, route, speed, and other details.
- Loop recording – It is crucial to ensure that the dashcam has a loop recording facility to make sure that the footage is continuous and the camera does not stop recording due to lack of storage. Cameras with the loop recording feature, overwrite the oldest data and record new data in a loop. So your system does not face storage issues.
- Accident sensors – Advanced dash cams equipped with G-sensor technology can sense collisions. They can record frame-by-frame footage of the collision and store the data safely.
- Battery – Most of the dash cams run on the battery of your vehicle. This means they capture footage only when the vehicle is on. If you want the footage of the vehicle even when it is parked, it is essential to choose dash cams with built-in batteries. It is noteworthy to ascertain the life of the built-in batteries before making the final decision.
- Easy Integration – If you have a fleet of vehicles, it is recommended to choose dash cams that can be easily integrated with your existing fleet management system. You can contact your telematics provider for more information on dashcam integration.
Choosing dash cams for your vehicles is a time-consuming job that requires a lot of consideration.
Apart from comparing the dash cam prices of different brands, you have to consider the features provided by each brand and how they will help you smoothen fleet operations.
There is no one-size-fits-all approach to choosing dashcams.
Your choice should be based on the type of the fleet and your business requirements. However, one point to remember is that the dash cam must be easily integrated into your fleet management system and must have a built-in GPS, transport management system to enable online mapping on their location, route and speed.
We can summarise by saying that dash cams are a necessity for businesses with fleets. They provide multiple benefits that help you safeguard your assets and employees.
The video footage of dash cams can aid as valuable proof to prove the innocence of your drivers in case of accidents and wrong accusations. They also help you to keep a check on driver behaviour and assess their training needs.
