Udontno
New Member
Hello. This is my first post, so I hopefully won't step on any toes here. I have project that I think would be best suited to a dash cam, but used somewhat atypically. I need to document vehicle speeding issues on a 2-lane state highway in front of my home in a residential neighborhood, to try to persuade the local council to request the state to do a "traffic safety study" that could lead to signage changes, lower limits, more enforcement, etc. The state does not permit individual residents to make such a request.
As support for my request, I want to tabulate vehicle speeds for an hour duration each time during peak traffic volume, on several different days. I already have an inexpensive but reasonably accurate hand-held radar speed gun. I want to video the traffic as I measure speed, and simultaneously voice record the speeds and brief descriptions of individual vehicles on the recording. WIth that done, I hope to be able to view the audio later and put together a spreadsheet of vehicles and speeds.
The reason I think a dash cam might be my appropriate choice is that many of them seem to have a second (rear view) lens so that video may be simultaneously recorded from two perspectives 180-degrees apart. I believe that would help minimize the risk of failing to identify a particular vehicle in 2 way traffic. I plan to mount the camera on a fixed tripod, while holding the speed gun by hand.
What I think I should look for in the camera is: some way to use external power (I do see that there is a forum section devoted to that); an audio input jack so that I can use a mic to voice record (to minimize traffic noise); and the ability to mount on top of a tripod (it appears that some dash cams are only designed to hang underneath a support). It would be a plus if the camera was not terribly vulnerable to a little bit of rain, although that may be asking too much. Finally, while I don't mind spending a little for the right camera, this is intended to be a limited time endeavor, so price and/or resale value will be a consideration.
I will appreciate any advice or recommendations you may offer. Thanks!
As support for my request, I want to tabulate vehicle speeds for an hour duration each time during peak traffic volume, on several different days. I already have an inexpensive but reasonably accurate hand-held radar speed gun. I want to video the traffic as I measure speed, and simultaneously voice record the speeds and brief descriptions of individual vehicles on the recording. WIth that done, I hope to be able to view the audio later and put together a spreadsheet of vehicles and speeds.
The reason I think a dash cam might be my appropriate choice is that many of them seem to have a second (rear view) lens so that video may be simultaneously recorded from two perspectives 180-degrees apart. I believe that would help minimize the risk of failing to identify a particular vehicle in 2 way traffic. I plan to mount the camera on a fixed tripod, while holding the speed gun by hand.
What I think I should look for in the camera is: some way to use external power (I do see that there is a forum section devoted to that); an audio input jack so that I can use a mic to voice record (to minimize traffic noise); and the ability to mount on top of a tripod (it appears that some dash cams are only designed to hang underneath a support). It would be a plus if the camera was not terribly vulnerable to a little bit of rain, although that may be asking too much. Finally, while I don't mind spending a little for the right camera, this is intended to be a limited time endeavor, so price and/or resale value will be a consideration.
I will appreciate any advice or recommendations you may offer. Thanks!