What are 5 Common Mistakes to Avoid When Using a Dashcam?
Dashcams aren’t just devices you go buy at a tech store. They should rather be seen as an (ideally) hardwired vehicle component that is essentially part of your car. Failing to manage footage and memory is another common mistake motorists make, but it all starts with choosing the right dashcam from the get-go.
According to Rowland-yauger, dashcams have become a near-indispensable tool globally for drivers seeking to protect themselves on the road. In Botswana, growing awareness of road safety and the importance of having clear evidence in the event of a collision is encouraging more motorists to consider installing dashcams in their vehicles.
But with so many brands available to Botswana consumers, which one is best? And what are the mistakes being made by motorists when they finally bite the bullet and make the purchase? Cartrack will highlight 5 common mistakes you could make when using a dashcam and also show you the best way to avoid these mistakes by purchasing the right one.
What are 5 mistakes drivers typically make when using a dashcam?
- Purchasing the wrong dashcam in the first place
- Mounting the dashcam incorrectly
- Not managing their footage efficiently
- Being ignorant of “night vision”
- Sharing footage prematurely on social media platforms
1 – Buying the wrong dashcam
Arguably the biggest mistake dashcam users make is in the initial selection process. Dashcams are seen as an accessory for your car; something we just add for continuous recording “just in case” something happens that’s worth capturing.
But dashcams are a bit more complex than people realise. Video footage takes up a lot of data. Imagine capturing every trip on your phone camera! It wouldn’t be long before your gallery ran out of space. And if you were to go over that footage afterwards, you’d quickly realise that much of that footage is painfully boring.
This is basically what store-bought dashcams are: simple cameras that record EVERYTHING about your trip. Not as useful as one might think.
Problems that stem from buying the wrong dashcam:
The 5 mistakes we mention in this article actually stem from this main mistake: CHOOSING THE WRONG DASHCAM to begin with. This will create mounting problems (you’ll likely have to mount it yourself), data management problems (store-bought cameras come with SD cards that require meticulous maintenance), and other challenges.
- “But they’re so much cheaper.”
True, but for the purposes of protecting you on the road, store-bought dashcams won’t necessarily do everything you need them to—especially in an emergency.
- “But I only have to pay for it once.”
Yes, but a once-off purchase comes with a lot of self-maintenance that will become tedious after some time.
So before you buy your next dashcam, let’s look at how mounting, data management, and safety features can be misunderstood. That way, you’ll make the right choice from the get-go.
2 – Bad mounting
Incorrect camera placement is a common mistake that ultimately renders your dashcam relatively useless. A store-bought dashcam will need to be mounted with wires hanging down to the plug that’s connected to your cigarette lighter.
Definitely NOT ideal!
Problems that stem from mounting your dashcam incorrectly:
Another big mistake is failing to inspect your windscreen beforehand. A crack in the windscreen could distort the footage, and windscreens that are strongly tinted could do the same (although this is less common). Bad footage won’t be useful if you ever need to refer to it for legal or insurance reasons.
- Some users even make the mistake of mounting the dashcam OUTSIDE of the vehicle, which will cause the camera to suffer damage very quickly.
- A dashcam mount that disregards power is another common mistake. It might be in the right position, but will it sufficiently charge when your car is switched on?
- What about the angle? Is it picking up everything you need it to? How will you know how to adjust the camera to the most ideal angle?
Also remember: your car is constantly vibrating. The camera must be securely fixed by a professional, and the wiring should be hardwired to your vehicle in a way where wires are NOT in the way.
3 – Wasting memory with irrelevant footage
As we mentioned earlier, much of the footage of your dashcam is nothing more than boring travel. This is not the purpose of a dashcam, because all of this footage takes up loads of space (or memory).
Many dashcams out there come with SD cards, which is where all this footage gets stored. But these need to be formatted at least once a month. You can pull footage and save it to your laptop if you want, but you’d have to search for it among hours of video you don’t actually need.
Problems that stem from memory mismanagement:
Not managing your footage correctly results in lost footage, corrupted images, and possibly a damaged SD card. The point of your dashcam is ultimately PROTECTION. If you don’t have clear, observable footage, you can’t use it to prove your innocence or the actions of those you encounter on the road.
4 – Misunderstanding “night vision”
Night vision is a great feature for using your dashcam in limited light. The problem comes in where night vision doesn’t adapt to bright lights and shadows. Night vision causes lights to be blindingly bright, making it impossible to discern shapes, shadows and number plates.
Problems that stem from night vision issues:
You might buy a dashcam because it has night vision (great selling point!), but without wide dynamic range (WDR) technology, the camera won’t adapt to bright lights in real time. This will leave you with indiscernible footage that’s useless for recourse if you experience an event on the road.
5 – Premature sharing of footage
It’s not technically illegal to record other people on the road, but once you share images of other people for the purpose of “naming & shaming”, you’re entering into dangerous territory.
The DPA Act ( Data Protection Act) prohibits you from sharing recorded footage (where a private person can be easily identified) on public platforms. This includes number plates, faces, names, and other identifiable factors.
Problems that stem from sharing footage against regulations:
People get into a fair amount of legal trouble by sharing the identities of others online. This can open the floodgates of civil litigation where YOU’RE suddenly the one in the wrong!
Other bystanders who aren’t involved in the incident might also be in the footage. Without their consent, you may not share their faces on social media in Botswana.
Remember: dashcam footage is there to identify someone who did something wrong, but always go to your insurance company first, and then to the police with your evidence. Social media isn’t where private information about other people should be divulged.
How does choosing the right dashcam solve these problems?
Choosing your dashcam from a reputable telematics service provider negates these problems by controlling footage wisely, having the camera installed properly, and guiding you on the correct (and legal) ways to use your footage and camera features. Suppliers like Cartrack approach dashcams from a professional viewpoint, giving you everything you need to stay truly protected on the road.
Here’s how:
Cartrack’s solution to low-quality footage
Cartrack solves low-quality footage by always mounting your dashcam PROFESSIONALLY. We also inspect your windscreen for you, and wire your dashcam (typically through your cubbyhole) in a way that hides the DVR box and keeps wires out of the way.
Our dashcams give you high-definition footage, making it clear and easy to refer to when you need it for insurance claims or legal defence. The dashcam is mounted securely, so vehicle vibrations won’t affect the integrity of the device or its components.
Cartrack’s footage management strategy
Data and footage are where Cartrack really shines! Instead of having a massive storage of irrelevant footage, Cartrack only stores video that’s based on an event. Our cameras automatically store this footage for 3 years in case you need to refer to it later.
This policy also solves the privacy problem of sharing footage. We’re bound by the DPA to only share footage for legal or insurance purposes, keeping you safe from misusing that footage and getting into trouble.
If you need to review event footage, we’ll give you access to it—so you only use data when you actually need it. Our cameras do have SD cards for immediate recording, but you’ll never need to format it to keep it in good condition.
Cartrack’s night vision feature
Your Cartrack dashcam will work just as well at night as it does during the day. Our dashcams have WDR technology built in, so it adjusts to lighting and shadows in real time, giving you clear & crisp footage.
What other features work well with a dashcam?
Other features that work WITH your dashcam to give you more safety features include:
- GPS tracking and anti-jamming technology
- Accident detection
- AI driver & road monitoring
- 24/7 roadside and medical assistance
- Cross-border tracking
- Ignition start prevention
Where should you get a dashcam?
Avoid these very nuanced dashcam mistakes and keep clear of all the complications that come with mounting, sharing, and data management. Get your dashcam from Cartrack and let us do all the heavy lifting for you.
We offer our dashcams at an affordable price, and installation is FREE! Get yours by contacting us today.
