Not to mention the noticeable increase of bad drivers on Swiss roads in the last decade.
So, what should I buy?
What features are necessary?
What's the best for my frank?
Don't Know much about em!
After watching Idiots in cars on YouTube have now decided to get a dashcam.
Last time I searched the topic for my father was 3-4 years ago, the important points I remember were: battery duration need/possibility of cabling yes/no quality of night shots record-on-movement function (for parking surveillance) I guess resolution and memory card size are not an issue anymore. Other less essential features like wifi upload were not interesting to us.
Regarding quality, Youtube was really helpful to assess the output of dashcams, many people upload their real footage together with their review.
I think we ended up buying one in the range 70-100 EUR and my father is still quite happy with it. The only defect is that sometimes the date is not correctly stored.
I have a Transcend DrivePro 50 installed in 2015-16, it is still going strong, so far no issues. I prefer a compact design, so for me no LCD is fine. The 50 has since been discontinued, but if I were to buy now, I may be going with the DrivePro 10.
Is this connected with the thread about making 'passive' income from becoming a Youtuber?
After witnessing the idiots in my area, I've put a Viofo A119 with GPS unit in all of my cars. It's got a compact design and I was able to run a hardwired connection directly to the fuse box with a fuse tap-off for an installation that looks as close to "from-the-factory" as possible.
If I were installing today, I would probably upgrade to the Viofo A129 to have front and rear coverage - my current setup only has front coverage, and I'm increasingly aware of situations where I am being tailgated, and where I would want video evidence if ever I was rear-ended.
If you are interested in some legal aspects of using DashCam's from a data privacy perspective:
I got a Xiaomi 70 mai dashcam on ali, cost around 60chf with the hard wire line iirc.
My dealer (dacia) was kind enough to fit the hardwire for free with my last service, so the camera is really hard to see.
Records automatically, and quality is good. As it's hardwired, also records when the car is off.
Only downside is every time I start the car it tells me it's starting to record. I need to find out how to disable that "warning". Also on bigger potholes/offroad it "saves" recordings thinking I was in an accident. So I go in every 3 months and delete everything (from the app).
Getting another one for the other car, and considering a second one for the rear window...
I've been using A119 for 3-4 years now and can only recommend it. I also recall that my purchase decision was driven by reading that it is one of the few cameras that have a capacitor instead of a battery or something else and it is resistant to spontaneous ignition due to high temperature (for example leaving the car in the sun in summer). Image quality is also very good, especially in poor lighting conditions.
+1 for the Viofo too. Can’t go wrong with their cameras and their stealth look. Dashcams are cheap insurance. Can’t understand why they’re not in more cars stock system.
Anyone use these on their motorbikes too?
Suggestions as I looked at some helmets with smart stuff but they are not really there yet
Is there a utility of GPS beyond having the location recorded? And do you need this? I mean, the picture says it all, doesn't it?
Dash cams with GPS can log the current speed which can be very useful in providing proof of an accident or when you received a speeding ticket. Reading the legal aspects that were linked a couple of post above, I doubt this could be used as evidence though.
I don't think a GPS-based speed reading can have any legal use, GPS speed is highly inaccurate and signal-dependent. Unless you are talking to some muppet, anyone with half a brain would have no problem to dismiss your evidence - be it in an accident claim or against a measurement taken by police-calibrated speed traps... Might be interesting for your own use and amusement, but not something to rely on elsewhere.
Sometimes authorities make a "call for witness(es)" because no one understands what happened. This is the time when video matters, people is literally asking for it.
The video part, sure it can be useful. The GPS speed, less so I think - thus the choice of device...
I use a Vantrue N4 3-channel dashcam bought from Amazon.de.
So 1 front, inside, and back coverage. It records 24/7 in my Skoda Enyaq (BEV).
So far very happy with the video quality.
I would also recommend using a reliable microSD like a SanDisk High Endurance specifically made for loop recording. You wouldn't want a corrupted memory when you need the footage.
Yes, this is an important read! What this pretty much says is that recording people and cars on the street is subject to Swiss (and EU) privacy legislation, the use/publication of the recording is a balance between the evidenciary value of the content and privacy interests of the public. For example, publishing on facebook or youtube could get you into trouble. Ideally, systems with ring-buffer (erase old recordings automatically) or g-sensor activation are desirable.
Examples publication/use of recordings is unacceptable:
*Entertainment (read: Youtube)
*Minor incidents (eg risky manouvres, minor road rage)
Examples of acceptable publication/use
*Serious incidents or accidents
*Anything that could assist authorities where supporting evidence is needed
At the end of the day, it will be the local prosecutor/and or court will determine the admissibility of the evidence.
Speaking of dashcams..I used a Cyliq 12 on my racebike for a while but, like others, quality and reliabilty is poor. There is certainly a big gap in the market for a light-weight compact cycling camera.
Does explain why there are no Swiss bad driving videos on Youtube.
I'm in two minds as to whether this is a good thing.
People on this forum seem to believe that Swiss roads are incredibly safe, compared with the U.K. for example but in reality road deaths per 1000,000 people is roughly the same as the U.K.
Especially if Hammond should show up...
Well...the mother of this guy is quite wit her liberal use of 'tit con and the guy quite liberal with the claxon
Drivers of Geneva