Why Almost Everyone in Russia Has a Dash Cam

[Vashta Nerada]

http://www.wired.com/autopia/2013/02/russian-dash-cams

How is it possible that a dozen different motorists around the Russian city of Chelyabinsk were able to capture video of a massive meteor flying through the sky? Because almost everyone in Russia has a dash-mounted video camera in their car.

The sheer size of the country, combined with lax — and often corrupt — law enforcement, and a legal system that rarely favors first-hand accounts of traffic collisions has made dash cams all but a requirement for motorists.

[cannon_fodder]

Dash cams are too complex and expensive for TPD... but Russians can have them.

[dbacks fan]

Dash cams are too complex and expensive for TPD... but Russians can have them.

It's sad that there is not a company that makes small HD cameras that can record HD video with a small lightweight camera that is durable, records audio, has multiple uses, and easy to use here in the US. Guess that they are only available in Russia.

Wait a minute, what's this?

http://gopro.com/

Oh, that's right, I own one......

[patric]

It's sad that there is not a company that makes small HD cameras that can record HD video with a small lightweight camera that is durable, records audio, has multiple uses, and easy to use here in the US. Guess that they are only available in Russia.

Wait a minute, what's this?

http://gopro.com/

Oh, that's right, I own one......

GoPro cameras are very cool, but they are mostly a camera that can be mounted on a dash, rather than a dashcam.

A dashcam should be hard to steal or tamper with -- what's the point of recording a mugging or theft if you are just handing over the recording to the perp as a souvenir?

[dbacks fan]

GoPro cameras are very cool, but they are mostly a camera that can be mounted on a dash, rather than a dashcam.

A dashcam should be hard to steal or tamper with -- what's the point of recording a mugging or theft if you are just handing over the recording to the perp as a souvenir?

Sorry I did not include a lot of standards, requirements and specifications comparing this to outdoor lighting and electronic billboard issues.

I was refering to the fact that there is camera equipment on the market that records HD video, and that the essential electronics in the camera are inexpensive. I'm not inferring that Gopro is the best answer, just that the technology is there, and the platform can be adapted.

Guess it's not as exciting as how much light polution the lights installed in the canopy over the pumps at a QT give off, and that less lighting is better on the streets and highways, huh?

[nathanm]

I was refering to the fact that there is camera equipment on the market that records HD video, and that the essential electronics in the camera are inexpensive. I'm not inferring that Gopro is the best answer, just that the technology is there, and the platform can be adapted.

Yep. And it shouldn't even be terribly expensive to connect it to separate storage as one would need for a dash cam application. Really, one of the wired 720p cameras from China are like $50 these days, and a DVR from China to record 8 cameras is also around $100. It really seems something could indeed be done there if people didn't equate "public safety" with "good folks to price gouge".

You do have to buy at least a case at a time directly from the manufacturer for that pricing, though. US resellers mark it up 2-3x.

[patric]

Sorry I did not include a lot of standards, requirements and specifications comparing this to outdoor lighting and electronic billboard issues.
Guess it's not as exciting as how much light polution the lights installed in the canopy over the pumps at a QT give off, and that less lighting is better on the streets and highways, huh?

Like I said, they are very cool, but I was trying to point out that something more purpose-built might have less vulnerabilities for this particular application.

Geez, I wasn't expecting...

[DolfanBob]

I'm trying to remember a driving event that absolutely needed to be recorded for no reason at all.
Nope. Sorry none come to mind. Damn Putin and his Ruskies. 

[custosnox]

I'm trying to remember a driving event that absolutely needed to be recorded for no reason at all.
Nope. Sorry none come to mind. Damn Putin and his Ruskies. 

My step-dad is a truck driver and installed a dashcam on his truck to help with the problem of his truck getting hit while parked.  Because of the way it was setup, it stayed recording at all times.  This led to his recording being used to prove that another truck driver was not at fault when a man committed suicide by stepping out in front of the truck on the highway. 

[DolfanBob]

Oh man. I'm not sure that I would want to relive that over again in high def.

[patric]

My step-dad is a truck driver and installed a dashcam on his truck to help with the problem of his truck getting hit while parked.  Because of the way it was setup, it stayed recording at all times.  This led to his recording being used to prove that another truck driver was not at fault when a man committed suicide by stepping out in front of the truck on the highway.  

Modern dashcams use flash memory, and can record continuously for days.  The Panasonic system TPD has comes from the factory capable of recording uninterrupted for more than 3 days at a time.

[patric]

http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/tue-february-19-2013/how-i-meteored-your-motherland

[patric]

Wasnt quite worth a new topic, but occasionally you run across dashcam video that just leaves you speechless.

The death toll in this accident rose to 27 overnight, according to the Associated Press. At least 80 people were reportedly injured in the crash.

[heironymouspasparagus]

Defensive driving...always....  geez, what a nightmare!

[Vashta Nerada]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=waxRmjm8-ms

CNN -- The family of a Florida man has released video of his death, hoping to get criminal charges filed against the police officer who ran him over.
On May 8, Marlon Brown was being chased by DeLand police because they allegedly saw that he was not wearing a seatbelt.
One of the police cars hit and ran him over, its dashcam video recording the entire incident.
Last week, a grand jury decided not to indict officer James Harris on a criminal charge of vehicular manslaughter.

http://www.cnn.com/2013/09/20/justice/florida-police-run-over-man/