Dash Cams: Good idea or Not

You bet I do..have a GPS too....they are great tools to have in the tool box...But if I didn't have them or they weren't working...still have the map reading skills to fall back on....some , if not most newbies would be completely lost if they had to depend on a map and only a map to trip -plan. Not saying that the new technologies aren't viable tools , they are...but in a pinch us older hands have the skills to keep moving without it.

 

In that video you sound like this is a race..the driver in question was weaving and crossing line...she may have been on the phone , texting , or putting make-up eating..all sorts of stupid stuff...but you're supposed to maintain a professional attitude and either slow-down give her room or change lanes to get away from her...you could also slow down on the start-ups..sounds like you're in an auto with your foot to the floor. This is an instance where you could be seen as being in the wrong as much as the other driver.....your comments and the wording on the video give your attitude away.....

 

I wasn't running a dash cam in Cali and this guy for some reason or another blew past me then decided to cut me off slam on his breaks til he got down to 45, when he noticed my phone up video taping him he took off. Now I'm a local driver and do a downtown seattle route and i'm looking into getting one soon. It's a good way to prove your right and their wrong. The one thing I will never accept is these companies that are talking about running cameras that are pointed on the driver. I've heard there's already one trucking company that's running those, but that's just a rumor don't really know that personally

 

Not trying to be a smart aleck...so please don't take it that way...but after over 30 years behind the wheel....you start to drive folks cars for them...always expect them to do something wrong/dangerous..always leave yourself some space , even if you have to slow down/change lanes or even find a place to pull to the side for a bit to put some distance between your self and a dangerous driver....I'm no know it all...but when I retired in 2011 I had an accident free 3 million + miles behind me....that don't come by "accident". You can't have an I'm bigger than you attitude , or get in a hurry driving a semi....got to have a whole different outlook than full speed...

 

Very, very true!

 

Boyd has dash cams and during certain instances (hard breaking, abrupt lane changes, and the like) there is an inside camera that comes on. It doesn't record at all times and the driver knows when it's on. Its not like they are being nosey into what the driver is doing at all times only in instances that could be caused by driver distraction. If my bf was to be in an accident, I'd rather he be able to prove he was paying attention than having to prove that he wasn't distracted by his phone or something like that.