Finally got a dash cam, planning to install this week, hopefully before some Jackson bonehead plows into me!

The unit I got has the option of adding on a relatively cheap GPS device to encode location and speed. Part of me likes the idea of being able to demonstrate that I wasn't speeding if hit, was stopped when run into, etc. The paranoid part of me is concerned that in the unlikely event that I am traveling even slightly in excess of posted speed when an incident occurs I'm just setting myself up to have to provide evidence against myself and to my detriment.

What's the thought process you've used to arrive at a decision on this, or what are your thoughts if just a user without having actually considered this in any detail?

TIA

{and how about THAT for a descriptive thread title?}

Personally, I'd err on the side of paranoia.

Just like there's no way in hell I'd plug one of those insurance company monitors into my vehicle.

I haven't thought too much about it for my personal vehicle.

I will say managing a fleet of 16 vehicles at work for 10 years with dash cams, they have helped us nearly everytime. We have GPS speed and location. If we were at fault, then it gives us a chance to retrain the Driver, or terminate them if they were being stupid. We have overturned 2 insurance claims where a police report showed us at fault. Police reports are an opinion of what happened, rarely are they an eye witness. In several instances it has closed claims a lot faster where the other Driver was at fault, once they see we have video.

I had considered the benefit of being able to establish actual speed in the case of an inaccurate stop for speeding. As nice as that might be, I'm not positive it would be admissible/considered by a judge, and in 30+ years of driving I've never been stopped for anything I wasn't already guilty of, so not as concerned as I might be if I lived in some of the over zealous enforcement areas some here have described.

Good thread title

I too thought long and hard about activating the speed & GPS location for that just in case scenario you described. I had the same thought about activating "sound" that records as well.

My second thought on the sound, was "ok" so what if its recording my conversation with any passengers in the car? The most important things were: 1) it would record the sound of the fact I use my turn signals, 2) it would record the sound of my horn, 3) if it was dark and I was hit & the person drove away, I could yell out the license plate, make, model just in case the video did not capture everything.

Now as to my speed and the GPS, is so what, if I am slightly speeding because I am inherently more "aware" of my surroundings than most. Hence I would be braking, swerving, etc. to hopefully avoiding the accident. So no need to share the video. Plus I don't know if its feasible or not, but, could not one delete the speed prior to telling anyone there was a video and presenting a copy thereof?

Go over to Blackboxmycar.com
Lot of useful info, videos etc.

When I bought my dashcam, the GPS add on was $10. I added it. I also put my last name and tag number into the feed. My tin foil hat is fairly loose. Remember, you don't have to provide the footage (unless someone saw the cam and subpoenaed footage). Unless you knew what to look for, my camera would likely go unnoticed.

In the event the footage is used, it will show where you were, when you were, and how fast you were. Keep within 4mph of posted and stop freaking out. It must be really stressful to constantly fret about whether or not the police will ticket you.

Second nomination for Blackboxmycar...I bought my cameras from them. Lot’s of good info

quote:

Originally posted by SIGfourme:
Go over to Blackboxmycar.com
Lot of useful info, videos etc.

Great site! Purchased a few units through them.

As a retiree I don't drive my car(s) every day. As a result the capacitor discharges and the day-date setting is lost. Taking time to reset it every time I take a car out is literally a royal PITA so I quit.

Bottom line for me is that hard wiring to retain settings would easily take precedence over the additional GPS module available for my dashcam. And frankly I'm not so sure I'd bother with the GPS thing anyhow.

They could probably get that same data from your cell phone or vehicle computer if they wanted to. I'd want to have that information in case of an accident. You don't have to mention you have that in the event you were speeding.

Right or wrong, for better or worse, I have elected to keep the GPS function in my dash cam turned off.

For myself, I wouldn't add the speed data.

If you're going to use the video, it's because it's going to show the other party was at fault; otherwise, you're not going to use the video.

If you use the video, any data showing you were going at or under the speed limit isn't going to add to your benefit; either the video will show the other party is at fault or not. But if the video shows you were driving over the speed limit; then it could be used to show you contributed to the incident.

I don't see any upside to adding the speed data.