In this day and age, it's no secret that there are tons of terrible drivers out there on the road. We've all done the odd swerve here and there, and some of us might have even hit a few bumps out there.
But it's not just the adults- teenagers, overexcited over the prospect of getting their licenses and new cars, can be quite careless on the road. This is why driver's lessons are important, and so is staying on top of your kid's driving behavior.
Few can claim to give parents insight into how their kids drive except for the humble (and relatively inexpensive) dashcam.
How does it help? Here are some excellent factors:
You drive more carefully with a dash cam on. This applies not only for teens but also for adults! Install a dashcam and let your kids know that you have it turned on for their safety; a lot of things happen out there, but this serves a double purpose- anyone who drives while they're being watched makes an effort to drive more safely.
This starts building a habit of defensive driving, which is the ideal for any kind of driver out there. With enough habit building, it becomes second nature to not be aggressive on the road, which is the #1 problem, to begin with.
Another factor that can lead to incidents in the road is driver distractedness; some dash cams have dual cameras that capture from the windshield facing forward, and another camera faced at drivers and passengers. This helps you see your teen drive, and give them quick input if you're able to review the video feed later. Make sure that they aren't on the phone while they drive, and that they have both hands on the wheel at all times.
Especially in this age of social media and mobile devices, it's easy to take your attention off the road, and into your mobile device. This is particularly true for teenagers, but is also applicable for adults! This is one of the most dangerous things to happen out on the road.
In a split second, anything can happen- and no parent wants anything bad to happen to their children.
Some dash cams allow for live-view through a mobile device, and this helps you keep track of your kid's driving habits from your mobile device.
To make sure that the dashcam is properly working, have it hardwired into the vehicle where it automatically turns on with the ignition.
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Speaking of all the things that can happen out there, your teen might run into some trouble. If they hit another car, or get into an accident, and especially if they get intimidated by an irate adult, they can and will panic. A lot can happen out there, and having a dashcam is both insurance and deterrent for anyone looking to take advantage of your child's inexperienced driving.
Of course, even minor accidents can be costly; if your teen's vehicle has a dashcam, it's able to track what exactly happened, and helps lessen the expense to repair the vehicle through insurance. You've invested time into teaching your kid how to drive properly; by default, most parents think that an accident happening really is their kid's fault - but sometimes it isn't and it's someone else's.
A dashcam should set things straight through undeniable video proof.
Not only are cars important investments, but your child's safety is also the #1 priority. Every little thing helps- a dashcam is a minimal investment, compared to the safety that it brings to your children's everyday driving. If you don't have one yet, consider one and having it installed immediately.
So what should you be looking for in a dashcam to help your kid drive safer and protect them from motoring accidents?
We've covered quite a few above, but here are some detailed pointers to help you get the best dashcam for your teen's new car:
Resolution. Make sure to get a dashcam that's at least 1080p, or in 4k resolution to make sure that you don't miss out on any detail out on the road.
High-performance image processing and night vision. This is one of the most important features to have in a car dash cam. Even if your dash cam's resolution is up to 4k, if it can't capture in low light and can't process images well, your dash cam is near useless at night.
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GPS is a great peripheral feature to have in a dash cam. While your car might have already have GPS, having a back up with your dash cam and having it sync with your video is a great tool to have.
Wide angle lens. With image processing and resolution, you also need a wide angle for your dashcam lens. Your image might be clear with a 90 degree dashcam, but if you can have one that captures up to 140 degrees, then all the better.
Motion detection is a great feature to have in a dash cam, especially when the vehicle is parked. Even if the dash cam is wired to work with the ignition turned on, some dash cams automatically record when something or someone goes near the vehicle.
WiFi/wireless connectivity. You'd want to be able to view the dashcam's feed from a mobile device, and wireless connectivity allows for that feature.
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Compatibility with larger SD cards. 32 GB should be fine, but a dashcam that works with bigger capacities such as 64 and 128 GB is a great buy.
Safety. Make sure that you're buying a dash cam that works with your car's voltage, and make sure that its approved by the SAA and is up to par with today's safety standards to prevent any untoward incidents.
Durability. This doesn't just mean shock proofing; your dash cam should be up to par with electrical safety standards to prevent any incident from occuring and to have it continue capturing video.
If your dash cam has all these features, then you should be all set! If you're looking for the best quality dash cams, look through our selection here at Elinz, perfect for any kind of vehicle.
