Best (most discreet) Front / Rear Dashcam advice please?

[markben]

First: I am fortunate to be an IAM ‘Advanced Motorist’ & former Police Associated Driver & Speed Awareness Instructor, and (I hope!) well-disciplined in both reading the traffic conditions AND patiently allowing for often inadvertent / Driver Behaviour Errors in daily traffic (e.g. accidentally mis-judged cutting-in / tailgating etc). ‘Live & Let Live on our busy roads’ etc? 'Defensive Driving & all that'?

But.. on increasing occasions recently, I’ve experienced what I can best describe as deliberate ‘Driving without Due Care & Attention’: i.e. more Intentional than accidental.

After an episode today where another Driver (in a new Audi, if that matters?) both crossed a Solid White line approx 100 m behind me into a restricted Bus Lane (TOR1) and continued to drive in it blocking Bus access (TOR2): then stubbornly refused to let-me-in at the appropriate ‘Bus Lane entry’ markings by nudging to within 6 inches (!) of the vehicle in front despite my signalling my intention to legally enter it (TOR3?). I was left feeling pretty peeved.

The irony is that, having later followed the other Driver at a safe & legal distance on clear roads for 10 mins / 3 miles, he was literally 1 second ahead of me before turning-off in different direction. What did he gain from this illegal, discourteous, obstructive & potentially dangerous driving manoeuvre? .

As a result, I’ve pondered further about fitting a F/R Dashcam. Although I would usually prefer to make allowances for other Drivers’ (usually accidental) mis-judgements than becoming a ‘Dashcam Vigilante’, today was the limit. However: I worry somewhat about having conspicuous Dashcam apparatus in my W220 since it might be a target for Thieves.

That said: I feel that that time has come to install a suitably discreet & effective F/R Dashcam in my W220 - if only to record & submit evidence of some of the worst TOR Offences to the Police and protect my reputation as reliable Witness if on those rare occasions when ‘things go wrong’, and / or in any kind of legal dispute about my involvement in, or liability for such. ‘The Camera never Lies’?

All thoughts & suggestions welcomed, thanks as always.

MB

 

[AnthonyUK]

Hi.
I have used a Viofo for a while and it has been faultless with decent video quality.
They do front/rear models that seems to have quite good reviews so worth a look.
The interface is not that great but I only used it once to set it up.

 

[Chris9369]

I use the Nextbase dash cams in both my SL500 and my Jaguar XJ. The quality is very good compared to other makes I have tried and the price is very reasonable. The "discreet nature" of the cam is very much down to the mounting device and nextbase seem to have this covered by not having the cam hang down from the mounting device, some also have magnetic mounts making them easy to remove if required. I would not worry too much about theft, you don't seem to hear reports of theft of Sat. navs, Dash cams, radios and even alloy wheels these days. Have a look in Halfords, who are one of the main stockists of Nextbase, you can see the actual size of them compared to other makes and they often have offers on them at reduced prices.
I think that dash cams are essential these days as insurance companies are all too ready to settle "knock for knock" and both parties then loose their no claims bonus.

 

[markben]

I use the Nextbase dash cams in both my SL500 and my Jaguar XJ. The quality is very good compared to other makes I have tried and the price is very reasonable. The "discreet nature" of the cam is very much down to the mounting device and nextbase seem to have this covered by not having the cam hang down from the mounting device, some also have magnetic mounts making them easy to remove if required. I would not worry too much about theft, you don't seem to hear reports of theft of Sat. navs, Dash cams, radios and even alloy wheels these days. Have a look in Halfords, who are one of the main stockists of Nextbase, you can see the actual size of them compared to other makes and they often have offers on them at reduced prices.
I think that dash cams are essential these days as insurance companies are all too ready to settle "knock for knock" and both parties then loose their no claims bonus.

Thanks Chris, very helpful.

 

[EmilysDad]

I have a couple of Ddpai dash cams. They are onto Ddpai5 now though I have the 1st & 3rd .... both are pretty discreet & about the size of a mini swiss roll
They're both WiFi, neither have a distracting screen on them ... you view them via your phone.

 

[Larkone]

Is there a reason for a 'discreet' camera? I have changed a couple of bad drivers attitudes when I have pointed to my camera and they realise that their idiocy is being recorded and they have backed off pretty quickly.

 

[markben]

Is there a reason for a 'discreet' camera? I have changed a couple of bad drivers attitudes when I have pointed to my camera and they realise that their idiocy is being recorded and they have backed off pretty quickly.

Well, my first thought was that I don't want clumsy looking cams to clutter-up the F & R screens. But you have a point: the more visible, the more noticeable to other drivers?

 

[Wighty]

Had a Blackvue in both cars at the front for a few years . Does the job without fuss and is invisible to the driver .
Like you I experienced some shocking driving by others and thought That’s It I’m getting a camera to protect myself .

 

[EmilysDad]

mine are discreet enough that I can't see them .... ie they're mostly hidden by the rear view mirror. I didn't consider a theft point of view ..... but they're visible enough from the outside if you're looking for them. As above, they're not especially big & they're black so blend in (-ish) with the black around the rear view mirror

 

[EmilysDad]

.....
Like you I experienced some shocking driving by others and thought That’s It I’m getting a camera to protect myself .

I see a noticeable difference in attitude from other drivers when I'm driving my Smart compared to when I'm in my 2.2t 4x4 Barge! Funny how I don't get cut up or have people nip out in front of me when in the ML

 

[Blobcat]

I see a noticeable difference in attitude from other drivers when I'm driving my Smart compared to when I'm in my 2.2t 4x4 Barge! Funny how I don't get cut up or have people nip out in front of me when in the ML

I find the same, depending upon which of my cars I'm driving gets a very different response from other drivers

 

[ajlsl600]

First: I am fortunate to be an IAM ‘Advanced Motorist’ & former Police Associated Driver & Speed Awareness Instructor, and (I hope!) well-disciplined in both reading the traffic conditions AND patiently allowing for often inadvertent / Driver Behaviour Errors in daily traffic (e.g. accidentally mis-judged cutting-in / tailgating etc). ‘Live & Let Live on our busy roads’ etc? 'Defensive Driving & all that'?

But.. on increasing occasions recently, I’ve experienced what I can best describe as deliberate ‘Driving without Due Care & Attention’: i.e. more Intentional than accidental.

After an episode today where another Driver (in a new Audi, if that matters?) both crossed a Solid White line approx 100 m behind me into a restricted Bus Lane (TOR1) and continued to drive in it blocking Bus access (TOR2): then stubbornly refused to let-me-in at the appropriate ‘Bus Lane entry’ markings by nudging to within 6 inches (!) of the vehicle in front despite my signalling my intention to legally enter it (TOR3?). I was left feeling pretty peeved.

The irony is that, having later followed the other Driver at a safe & legal distance on clear roads for 10 mins / 3 miles, he was literally 1 second ahead of me before turning-off in different direction. What did he gain from this illegal, discourteous, obstructive & potentially dangerous driving manoeuvre? .

As a result, I’ve pondered further about fitting a F/R Dashcam. Although I would usually prefer to make allowances for other Drivers’ (usually accidental) mis-judgements than becoming a ‘Dashcam Vigilante’, today was the limit. However: I worry somewhat about having conspicuous Dashcam apparatus in my W220 since it might be a target for Thieves.

That said: I feel that that time has come to install a suitably discreet & effective F/R Dashcam in my W220 - if only to record & submit evidence of some of the worst TOR Offences to the Police and protect my reputation as reliable Witness if on those rare occasions when ‘things go wrong’, and / or in any kind of legal dispute about my involvement in, or liability for such. ‘The Camera never Lies’?

All thoughts & suggestions welcomed, thanks as always.

MB

I hav next base mirror cam at front and basic next base in back. Wish I had had it in back of ml when some ws drove into a parked truck behind me in April and tho he never touched me my insures paid him out and fd up half my no claims, I shud hav just driven off. this is now in abritation and a I have demanded the evidence on how they awarded his claim and fd up my ncd. I thoroughly reccomend f and rear dash cam. That's fairly irrefutable no matter wot evidence the other drivers mate may submit.

 

[AnthonyUK]

I watch some of Linus' videos for PC topics but his one on dash cams from a channel not dedicated to that topic is pretty interesting and covers some hard truths.

Long story short, they are all pretty mediocre

 

[Srdl]

I use the Nextbase dash cams in both my SL500 and my Jaguar XJ. The quality is very good compared to other makes I have tried and the price is very reasonable. The "discreet nature" of the cam is very much down to the mounting device and nextbase seem to have this covered by not having the cam hang down from the mounting device, some also have magnetic mounts making them easy to remove if required. I would not worry too much about theft, you don't seem to hear reports of theft of Sat. navs, Dash cams, radios and even alloy wheels these days. Have a look in Halfords, who are one of the main stockists of Nextbase, you can see the actual size of them compared to other makes and they often have offers on them at reduced prices.
I think that dash cams are essential these days as insurance companies are all too ready to settle "knock for knock" and both parties then loose their no claims bonus.

Another long time Nextbase user here. I don’t see any reason for them to be discreet?

 

[LostKiwi]

Another Viofo wedge user here. Very discrete especially if you can use the included cable cover.
It's on my Smart Roadster and cannot be seen unless you look for it.
The one on the R Class is the exact opposite but never had an issue with it being so obvious.

 

[Mark Q]

I have next-base and Apeman in our cars. The next-base as above seems good, when I recently went to take something off the apeman I found that the sd card was full of 'Mark Greatest Hits' music and no room for video recordings, have since put an empty card in, not sure how that one found its way into the dashcam.
Having a pickup does not appear to stop other drivers trying to cut me up, cut right across the front from right lane to exit left, or charging down thewcentre narrow country lanes at me.

 

[markben]

I have next-base and Apeman in our cars. The next-base as above seems good, when I recently went to take something off the apeman I found that the sd card was full of 'Mark Greatest Hits' music and no room for video recordings, have since put an empty card in, not sure how that one found its way into the dashcam.
Having a pickup does not appear to stop other drivers trying to cut me up, cut right across the front from right lane to exit left, or charging down thewcentre narrow country lanes at me.

Interesting observation about Driver behaviour, Mark, and I tend to agree with you .

The 'What you drive influences other drivers' behaviour towards you etc' Debate surfaces occasionally both on these forums AND in the national media. Q. an article in one of the popular Tabloids recently reporting a, er, 'Survey' which concluded that BMW & Audi drivers are 'the worst behaved / most dis-courteous' etc . Ohh.. really? And with what Scientific Peer-reviewed Empirical Evidence to support it? Mmmm...

Like you: and from experience / my Psychology studies into Human Behaviour & how other drivers behave towards 'ME' on public roads ('good or bad') invariably depends as much on THEIR Mindset & circumstances as what vehicle I / they happen to be driving (e.g. Prestige / large / small / old / new / 4X4 etc) as one's own attitude towards 'Them'. In fact, I'm regularly treated as courteously by drivers of Buses, HGVs, 4x4s etc who (e.g.) pause to let me-out from a T-junction and / or signal their intentions accordingly, regardless of that fact that I drive a large & arguably 'Posh' car.

At the same time (and in balance?): I often also experience dis-courteous behaviour from Drivers of various types of vehicles, regardless of what they / I am driving. I think only an armoured Chieftan Tank might make some Drivers stop & think about whether to 'dice' with me - even as an IAM trained motorist .

My Conclusion? The alleged (by the popular media) 'Hierarchy' of Driver +/- behaviour & attitudes according to 'what vehicle you / they drive' is statistically un-verified research - and far more about the Opinion of Journalists who want to capture the Motoring Headlines.

That said: what worries me as much is that some (I stress 'some..') Drivers seem to be influenced by what they read in the Popular & Marketing Media - and might choose their vehicle and / or driving style accordingly. The 'Sport Utility Vehicle' (SUV) phenomenon originated in the USA 30 years ago and now dominates new car sales in the UK. 'SUV' is a popular concept in the UK as in many other countries - but a contradiction in motoring terms if ever I saw one? Just consider the driving safety dynamics of many 'popular' SUVs: Higher centre of gravity = increased rollover risk. Bodywork styling increases Blind Spots in 'A' & 'B' Pillars necessitating additional airbags in case of roll-over?. Often appalling 'C' Pillar rear-view vision & blind-spots due to styling mods which then necessitate a 'Reversing Camera'. Not so-clever in the supermarket car park when the Driver can't hear a stray Child shouting 'Mummy, where are you?'. And.. not forgetting the increasing prevalence of digital 'touch-screen' technology on many modern cars' dashboards (EVs especially) which are a known distraction from old-fashioned 'tactile' / 'find & feel without-looking' controls. Much debate about this in the IAM Road Smart media.

The Original c. 2000 Nissan Qashqui was depicted in clever TV marketing commercials as a 'flying machine' that could bounce-off Skyscrapers and was virtually in-destructable - at the same time as taking the Kids to school?

But Hey ho - I'm not decrying Nissan, Mercedes SUVs or any others in general. For many owners they are 'the Best Thing since Sliced Bread'. Only my thoughts for better or worse

Now, where was I when I started to reply to this thread about Dashcams?

MB