Tech Today

Vehicle Safety: Dashcams and DVR Systems

Educate your clients on how they can protect themselves and their vehicles with dashcam and DVR systems.

WORDS BY DAVE MACKINNON

Equipping a car or truck with a dashcam or Digital Video Recording (DVR) system goes a long way toward improving how that vehicle is operated. Whether it’s for a personal application or in a corporate environment, if the driver knows everything he or she does is being recorded, the chances of aggressive or dangerous driving will be dramatically reduced. Better driving behavior directly translates into reduced accidents.

What is a Dashcam?

A dashcam is a compact digital video recording system designed to be mounted to the front windshield of a vehicle. These compact all-in-one systems have a wide-angle camera that faces forward to record what happens in front of the vehicle while it’s in operation. Most dashcam solutions include a microphone that will capture audio from within the vehicle or the sound of screeching tires, car horns and so forth.

Some systems include a secondary camera. This second camera may be placed on or near the top of the windshield to record motion and behavior inside the vehicle or on the rear window of the car, truck or SUV to record what happens behind the vehicle.

These systems are tied into the ignition circuit of the vehicle so it begins recording audio and video as soon as the vehicle is started. Most manufacturers provide cameras with a cigarette lighter-style power plug, but some offer a dedicated hard-wire harness with power and ground connections.

What is a Digital Video Recording System?

While a dashcam is a type of digital video recording system, a true DVR solution typically involves a dedicated control module that would be mounted under a seat or in the cargo area. These systems typically have inputs for up to four cameras. Premium models might have inputs for door pins, seatbelt status, turn signals or brake lights. Whereas a dashcam is typically designed as a consumer-grade product, a dedicated DVR system is targeted at commercial applications and requires professional installation and configuration.

Accelerometers and GPS Information

The majority of mobile electronics retailers will focus on mid-level to premium dashcam models. As such, many systems include a built-in three-axis accelerometer and a GPS antenna. The accelerometer captures G-force information as the vehicle is operated. Peaks in forward or rearward G’s can indicate heavy acceleration or braking. High lateral G-forces indicate high-speed cornering or aggressive maneuvers. Many recording systems include built-in event triggers that are configurable to mark incidents of high G-forces for easy review at a later date.

When equipped with a GPS antenna, two crucial pieces of information are captured: vehicle speed and location. The location information allows the person reviewing the video footage to pinpoint the vehicle’s location on a map. Most software suites provided with a dashcam or DVR automatically overlay the vehicle location onto an image from Google Maps or a similar service. Many dashcams will embed the longitude and latitude coordinates along with the vehicle speed and the local date and time right into

The TE-CDVR-G from iBeam is a commercial-grade four-channel Digital Video Recording system that includes a GPS antenna. The lockable front panel prevents operators from removing the SD memory card, so the captured data is secure.

The TE-DVR1080 from iBeam is a cost-effective dashcam solution that records at 1920x1080 pixels. The camera has an integrated two-inch color display that makes alignment and configuration easy.

Pioneer ND-DVR100 is a compact dashcam that includes a built-in accelerometer and a GPS receiver. It can capture video at up to 1920x1080 pixel resolution at 27.5 frames per second.

the video stream. With this information, anyone reviewing the data after an incident will be able to pinpoint where the vehicle was headed and how fast it was traveling.

Benefits of Mobile Video Recording in Reducing Accidents

In both consumer and commercial applications, drivers who know everything they say or do is being recorded are less likely to drive aggressively or engage in dangerous behaviors. For families in which children are using a parent’s vehicle, knowing Mom or Dad can see everything they do dramatically reduces the chances of reckless or careless driving. Drivers may choose to let a car pass and then change lanes behind them as opposed to accelerating to get in front of another vehicle.

In terms of emergency braking,

commercial vehicles like vans, pickup trucks and delivery vehicles typically take much more distance to stop than a car. If a vehicle is loaded with cargo or equipment, those distances can increase by 15 to 30 percent. Even a slight reduction in vehicle speed can dramatically reduce the distance required for the vehicle to stop. This speed reduction can prevent accidents or reduce the severity of those that may be unavoidable.

In commercial applications, reports from several suppliers indicate that at-fault accidents are reduced by as much as 50 percent after a video recording and driver coaching system has been implemented. This reduction in incidents saves the company time and money wasted on repairs, lost revenue due to vehicle downtime and expenses related to workman’s compensation claims. In a short amount of time, the reduction in accidents could

reduce insurance costs. In short, a DVR system can pay for itself.

Additional Benefits of Dashcams and DVRs

While reducing accidents is the focus of this series of Tech Today articles, there are additional benefits of video recording solutions that should be discussed as they are part of the sales pitch you’ll provide a potential client.

Sadly, there are hundreds of cases of fraud that take place each and every day. Common cases are vehicles backing into a car when stopped at a light in what’s known as a staged rear-ending. Sideswipe scams involve someone changing lanes and hitting your vehicle, but claiming you changed lanes into theirs. There are also countless pedestrian-based scams where someone crossing the street will pretend you hit them when coming to a stop at a

Many DVRs and Dashcams include video review software that allows for easy analysis of driver behavior, vehicle location, speed and g-forces. When used in conjunction with a driver training system, these solutions can reduce accidents and vehicle operating costs.

red light. Having a digital video recording system installed on a vehicle can provide valuable evidence that can easily exonerate the driver from these falsified claims, and in many cases, turn the tables into a fraud charge against those making these false accusations.

Camera System Installation Suggestions

With so many camera options available for dedicated commercial DVR systems, it’s crucial that you or your installation team test the cameras you intend to use in each specific location before you begin the installation. The first step is to ensure the camera covers the entire field of vision that needs monitoring. Some camera companies play games with specifications, citing diagonal viewing angles instead of horizontal and vertical.

Next, you’ll want to make sure the camera will fit in the space you intend. Make sure the camera is protected from damage during normal vehicle operation and that all cabling can be routed safely

and securely. Last, ensure the camera you plan to use offers appropriate image quality in high-contrast and dark conditions. Some cameras will wash out bright scenes or add significant amounts of noise to the video feed when it’s dark.

Capturing video requires storage. Pretty much all DVR solutions record continuously in one-, two- or five-minute files.

There are a few things to consider in terms of storage media. The SD or microSD used to capture video will be in use the entire time the camera is in operation. Old files are replaced as new files are created. As such, it’s recommended that you use high-quality, name-brand or manufacturer-specific storage media. The last thing you want is for the client to have missed an important piece of information due to a card error.

Different recording systems offer options in terms of resolution, compression and sometimes bitrate. Decreasing the resolution or bitrate allows the system to save more information, but you sacrifice image quality and detail. If the operator is hoping to see a license plate or read a phone number off the side of a vehicle, it’s best to keep the quality settings as high as possible. In order to maintain adequate storage time, look for recording solutions that will work with 128 and 256-gigabyte cards.

Get Serious About Vehicle Safety Solutions

The market for collision-avoidance systems is growing month by month as consumers become educated about the available products and solutions. Likewise, manufacturers are adding new and innovative products that use cutting-edge technology to make driving safer. If your business is serious about collision avoidance and accident prevention technologies, make sure it’s listed on the Vision Zero website at www.vzan.org.