Evening.
Does anyone know where I can get an on board camera to install in my car to record the road ahead? I would like to record other peoples crazy driving after a near miss that could have wiped out my entire family this afternoon whilst travelling through the Dartford tunnel.
At least if an incident had occurred, I would have had it on camera as evidence!
Any ideas ?
Thanks
Edited by Pugugly {P} on 10/01/2008 at 22:58
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Do a worldwide search on ebay for "dash cam" and "drivecam" or "drive cam".
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"Oregon ATC 2000" seems quite good, try googling that, may get one myself. £42 in USA Only £99 here !?!?!
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Thanks Ill look.
Does anyone already have a tried and tested one thats ok?
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The image quality from webcam-based kit will be useless.
I'd be looking for the smallest and/or cheapest camcorder that I could get with image stabilisation and a good quality wide-ish lens.
Kevin...
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I've been looking for helmetcams for the bike. Loads of good quality kit available recording to a DVR. These people are well respected.
www.dogcamsport.co.uk
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I have ordered the Oregon ATC 2000 from Amazon, lots of clips on the net of people in their cars look fine (some on lower quality settings not very good) and a review on the gadget show, and discreet enough to leave mounted on the screen behind the rearview mirror, and small enough to take with you in a dodgy area. They can go up to VGA@30fps.
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Any chance of some clips on Youface when you get it ?
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tenner says that once he turns the camera on, everyone will be driving like saints
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As a matter of interest, what value is it?
If you turn up at the local police station (assuming it's open) with a DVD and say "this shows someone driving badly in front of me yesterday", what will the police do with it?
Or if an accident has been caused and you do end up in court, is it of actual use then? Can it be shown in court? Will it be admissable?
I don't know the answers - I'm just wondering.
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Interesting to link this thread with the "man done for overtaking" one and some comments made in that re vigilantes (sp!), nazis, etc - seems the era they mentioned has already has already begun by comments made in this thread.....
Personally I'd much rather have more road cops than people going round with cameras in their car and then choosing which is the worst bit of driving they've seen and reporting them....
Everyone going for their pet "hates" such as white van man, old biddy, etc, rather than the genuinely worst culprit.
Grrr, modern technology.....
Edited by Dynamic Dave on 11/01/2008 at 10:28
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Modern hard disk camcorders are available £200-£300 range.
They are quite small and captures MPEG2 quality video.
I've seen National Express cameras, they actually turn on different directions!
I'm sure the way we are heading, in 2-3 years times, such traffic cams will be as common as Sat Navs
Edited by movilogo on 11/01/2008 at 09:30
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This should do it, also perhaps PU re the bike application:
www.motorsportcameras.co.uk/
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thanks guys.
B308- It is not my intention to try and snap the most appalling driving I can find, its so that if some " pink fluffy dice" decides to carve me up and shunt me into the central reservation, I have the evidence to prove who was at fault thats all.
If everyone had a camera in their vehicle and dangerous driving could be reported with the evidence, I'm convinced that the undertakers and tailgaters would think twice about doing so. It would reduce accidents for sure. In fact, a study in the US, commercial fleet vehicles using a camera system noted a 52% reduction in accidents. The occupants knew they were being recorded along with other road users. It made them think more about the consequences of their driving.
I would not have a problem having my driving monitored. Its the same arguement as ID cards, most who oppose them have got something to hide. If you're a good driver, why not have it monitored. If deep down you know that actually you are irratic and bad tempered behind the wheel, you won't want it recorded now will you?
Its hard to admit that you're a bad driver!
Attempt to defeat the Swearfilter deleted
Edited by Pugugly {P} on 11/01/2008 at 15:09
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That's like saying I've got nothing to hide so I want a camera to point at my bed to show everyone.
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B308- It is not my intention to try and snap the most appauling drivng I can find its so that if some pr1ck decides to carve me up and shunt me into the central reservation I have the evidence to prove who was at fault thats all.
Its hard to admit that you're a bad driver!
>>
I don't doubt that you will use it responsibly, but I have doubts that others will be quite so discerning, and that's where the problem arises - I would much rather have paid officials doing this sort of thing than any Tom, Dick or Harriet! Also the fact that on board cameras reduced claims for companies points more to the previously reckless/rubbish driving of the company's drivers, rather than other road users noticing a camera, which would probably not be visible to them at all.
Your final comment rather spoiled what was a reasoned argument in my eyes, btw, just a rather petty comment that was not necessary!
Edited by b308 on 11/01/2008 at 11:54
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Given (amongst myriad other examples) the recent video of an incredibly realistic UFO that was all over the net, that subsequently turned out (unsurprisingly) to be a hoax, it would seem pretty trivial to doctor a video to alter the numberplate of that blue BMW to that of someone you don't like.
Which is why I rather think video evidence gathered in this way might not actually be of much real use. It needs to be done on an "official" basis.
The ID card "nothing to hide" argument is a red rag to a bull, but I'm not personally going to bother with it here other than to say it's a very poor argument indeed in my opinion.
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One of my friends has a camera from
www.roadscan.co.uk/index.php
not cheap, but worth a look.
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video evidence gathered in this way might not actually be of much real use
Can we not say same logic when caught in a Gatso or police CCTV camera?
I think experts can actually find out whether a video/photo has been altered or not. (Of course if the expert himself photoshops it then it is a different matter)
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That was the point - if "experts" and "authorities" take the pictures, via gatsos etc, there is in place already a system whereby the evidence is pretty much assumed to be correct, although open to (complex reluctant and expensive) challenge
If Joe Bloggs takes the pictures then I think you might have to assume that a high percentage of it simply *won't* be what it seems to be. We'd be tied up forever as legal teams challenge every aspect of it.
So the reality is that in general terms "official" footage will be believed and acted on, and to admit "unofficial" footage could be such a logistical nightmare it won't actually happen.
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B308-Why did it spoil my reasoned arguement? I was just saying that if you ask most people they would consider themselves a good driver. Not many people could/would admit to being a bad driver thats all.
Anyway, anyone who is looking for similar device, have a look at these. Although named a helmet camera they are also used for recording rally driving etc:
www.actioncameras.co.uk/acatalog/Archos_Helmet_Cam...l
I'll get one and report back after a week or so's use.
Edited by enough is enough on 11/01/2008 at 20:28
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The camera arrived earlier, but it was dark by the time I left work, popped it on the dashboard, here is a short clip, one is compressed by me, and the other is RAW as it came from the cam. Will put some daylight ones on tomorrow....
web.mac.com/mushroom626/
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Can you get a time/date stamp on the vid ?
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No datestamp on the video, but it does have a built in calendar/clock which dates/times the creation/modification dates of files stored on it.
It's OK for £76, but doesn't set my world alight!
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Actually if you are unlucky enough to be involved in an accident these days your car hold the key!. Stored in the vehicle on a lot of makes now is accident data including speed & braking effort up to 30 sec's before crash, retardation etc & info from crash sensors so if you really are in the right & need to prove it the info can be retrieved.
Doc
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as per my recent thread "the unfairness of it all" i too would pay for a camera setup in my car
wots it gotta do with the id card debate?
id be happy if everyone walked around with cameras in public places, on the other hand british citizens with no criminal convictions will not carry id cards anytime soon no matter what any trumped up politician says
the pink fluffy dice who wiped me out has not even bothered to reply to his insurance company asking his version of events that day, i wish i had a witness, a camera would be a good starter for 10
funily enough ordinary folk having such cameras would also be able to show some of the worse police driving, in a slightly better version of police, camera, action, with a slightly more balanced comentary
ideally id like a camera thats hard to nick, as im already carrying too much out of the car what with sat nav and stuff
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ideally id like a camera thats hard to nick, as im already carrying too much out of the car what with sat nav and stuff...........................
tinyurl.com/3dox47
that should suit nicely then!
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