How to decide on which dashcam is right for your van

Dashcams for vans have become increasingly popular for commercial van drivers over the years and as many van drivers will already know, having a dash cam for your vehicle can be useful in a number of situations. In the case of an accident, having a dashcam can help to determine who is at fault and help protect you, your company and your van insurance bonus. However, there are now so many dashcams on the market which also heavily range in price so that it can be hard to decide which one is right for you. Today at insuremyvan.ie we are helping commercial van drivers to determine what to look for when buying a dashcam, and how they can decide on the best option for their needs.

Technical Features to consider:

Video Quality: Dashcams range in video quality, but many affordable options now come with 1080p. It’s imperative if you’re going to have a dashcam that you ensure the video quality is good enough to capture even minor accidents. Quality of the video counts when it comes to being found at fault for a claim so this isn’t an area to skimp. Viewing Angles:  Dashcams have been constructed to be placed on the windshield of a car and to provide an accurate view of the entire windscreen. However, since commercial vans atypically would have a much larger windscreen than your standard car, it’s important to ensure that your dashcam can capture the entire scene. The recommended angle of a dashcam for a commercial van is at least 140 degrees. Cloud Storage: Many dashcams now allow you to upload your footage to the cloud allowing you to store massive amounts of footage in the case that it may need to be recalled in the future. This is incredibly handy in the case that a potential claim is brought up in the future, you don’t have to risk having overwritten the footage (tip: if you’re a delivery driver this is also great if someone says you didn’t show up to a location on time!) Mounting options: Mounting option go hand in hand with your viewing angle and there are a variety of options. There are those that are simply plug and play and are suctioned onto the dashboard of your vehicle, and there are others which can be hardwired into the vehicle (these are typically more expensive options which require professional install). Alternately there are those which hang where your rear-mirror would traditionally be. When considering purchasing your dashcam, determine what kind of mounting and fitting is going to be right for your van so that you don’t risk obstructing any of your views, are able to capture the best footage, and you maintain your road safety. Shock Sensors and Automatic Storage: Shock sensors on a dashcam can be incredibly useful for your vehicle. With this technology the camera can actually determine if there has been a “shock” or collision, and at that point automatically store the footage that is leading up to the impact. This can be incredibly useful in the event of an accident. Cameras that come with shock sensors are all different. Some may store only a few seconds while others will store a few minutes, and prices can range. You’ll want to determine which is the best option for your needs. Single vs. double lens Whether to purchase a single or a double lens camera for your commercial vehicle really depends on the make and model of your van. With a single lens camera this will record only what is happening in front of you while you are driving and is the standard lens that a commercial van might use. Double lens cameras however, also record what is happening behind you which can be incredibly helpful in the case that you’re rear-ended while driving and offers additional protection to you and your insurance.

Additional Features to consider

Speedometer The speedometer is an occasionally controversial benefit of a dashcam but an incredibly useful one. In the event of an accident, having a speedometer on your dashcam can provide a consistent reporting of how fast you were going during the time that the accident was recorded. There are some who consider this too much information, but at insuremyvan.ie we can assure you that understanding your speed (and having another reminder to maintain it) is an imperative part in keep you and other road users safe. GPS Some dashcams come with the ability to store the location of your footage, so in the event of an accident or claim you can pinpoint the exact location of your van at the time. This can be incredibly useful during an insurance investigation should you be involved in an accident. This is especially useful for commercial van drivers who go long distances and may encounter an issue in an area that they are not familiar with. Live Feed Recording Many dashcams come with a live feed recording which is a small screen where you can view exactly what your dashcam sees while you are driving. While this might seem minor, it’s incredibly useful so that you can ensure that the screen is lined up properly and also so that you can ensure your lens is kept clean and there is nothing obstructing the recording – insuremyvan strongly recommends this. Parked Mode Parked mode on your dashcam works similar to the shock and sensor storage, but actually functions when your van is turned off and parked. With hit and run accidents being relatively common in Ireland, having your dashcam continuously recording and logging if you are hit when you are not present provides you with the assurance that you’ll have a strong claim case even when you are not present. If you’re a commercial vehicle driver who drives long distances and/or for hours at a time, you are at a potentially increased risk of encountering an accident. Having a dashcam can help to provide you with the peace of mind that in the event you do face an impact that you have the evidence recorded for your insurance claim. At insuremyvan.ie keeping our drivers and other road users safe is our top priority. For more information on how you can keep yourself and your drivers safe, and to get the best rates on your van insurance, visit us at insuremyvan.ie