High Quality dash cam is a double edged sword

[speedingcheetah]

Well...while it not happen to me, but to my 63yr old mother yesterday.
While borrowing her folks leased vehicle to run errands for them, she was in a accident.
I had stuck my old dash cam(VIOFO A119 Mini 2) in that car on a whim since she was using it occasionally and also cause my Grandmother had a accident in her previous car and having video of it would have been very useful.
Her new car being leased, wanted the "just in case" proof should something happen.
Whelp, it proved my mother(her daughter) was at fault for running a red light.
Hard red, for like 3 blocks away the entire time it came into view of the dash cam.

The excellent video quality of the dashcam was damning, and the audio quality as well, made it very difficult for any of us to watch and experience. And is first time seeing such a crash involving a family member and not some random YouTube video or news clips of someone else.
She truly had no idea she had run a red light, thought she had a green, and barely was able to react when someone turned in front of her.
Thankfully, it was not a severe collision, and no one was injured,
Front only cam so side impact was just out of frame, but things leading up to the crash, and after most important, like capturing the state of the intersection traffic light.
She only has ever had a accident once before, and that was back in the late 1980's.
She is still very upset and in shock after it all yesterday. It also causing a major rift in the family thanks to other un-related drama.

Having a dash cam, is a DOUBLE EDGED SWORD.
it can show if the other person is at fault, or, if you are.
It cares not. it just records what it sees and hears.
And having such a high quality camera, truly is a different level of emotional impact as well.

(posting in general topic and not Videos section, as this just a general comment about this kinda event and having a dashcam. She not want me post the video publicly, and it not really that dramatic a thing anyways compared to most vids posted here)

 

[lufa6977]

I am sure my driving improved after I began using dashcams. I soon realized it was recording me and my actions as I drove...and those actions could be used against me.

 

[DAP]

I'd rather know that I was at fault than be stuck in a he said, she said situation. I know that my memory in these situations sucks.

 

[mentadent]

It is good where you are they can't take your memory card, otherwise it would be even more of a double edged sword.

 

[TonyM]

Good to hear no-one was injured. Maybe something good will come out of watching the video, perhaps acknowledging that we all make mistakes behind the wheel.

I recently ran through a red light without realising it. I reviewed the video later that day and was both surprised and disappointed by my own driving.

 

[speedingcheetah]

Good to hear no-one was injured. Maybe something good will come out of watching the video, perhaps acknowledging that we all make mistakes behind the wheel.

I recently ran through a red light without realising it. I reviewed the video later that day and was both surprised and disappointed by my own driving.

One thing i noticed only recently, is that the dash cam video quality is high enough that the last few frames leading up to the impact, it can be seen the other vehicle had pre-existing front end damages. So, if the other driver tries to claim excessive damage or other damage was caused by this crash, we have proof of the state of their vehicle pre-this crash.

 

[kamkar]

I am quick to point fingers at people in traffic, but i must also admit that while i have never had a accident and insurance companies call me a super elite driver.
I too mess up and at times and will have to share a video of my own foolery.

Fortunately i lost A LOT of that kind of videos when i wiped my old Google accounts in a fit of extra large range against that company.