[Archived]

You cannot fix stupid.

[Bill]

Wow, that driver did a hell of a job. You’re right, I thnk a dash cam is in my future.

[Archived]

On the way home from the March Tampa Rally, in no particular hurry. I was going north on I-95 in South Carolina. I’m in the #2 lane, doing Jon’s 62 MPH. I’m watching my mirrors as much as out my windshield so I can anticipate evasive manuevers – pick a plan to get out of the way.

Well all has gone well until I’m approaching a scissor interchange and an 18 wheeler is approaching in the #1 lane. I’m thinking at the speed he is approaching he will continue north. Now this is no exageration, since we sit right on top of the windshield, he gets his trailer about 12″, yes that would be INCHES, in front of the coach and then cuts right and goes directly down the off ramp. There was no way I could have expected that manuever. Jon’s 3 MPH below the speed limit may have saved our lives that day. Lots of thoughts flashed through my mind but of course it all happened so fast there was nothing I could do. I’m thinking we could have made one heck of a mess that day on I-95.

A lady called my office when I was a Division Traffic Engineer. She told me what my primary job responsibility was, “Your job is to anticipate our stupidity and take action before we hurt ourselves.” Notice there is no expression of concern for others that may be hurt or killed by their idiotic actions behind the wheel.

Maybe a dash cam is a great idea. Anyone found a favorite model dash cam?

[Mike]

I was looking for a dual lens camera to replace my current one and instead opted for one with a single lens, but a 170 degree view compared to my current 120 degrees. I just got it so I cannot report on how I like it, but after our next trip I am going to download the card and see how well it does. I will probably put it in the bus today. I already like it because it’s very flat configuration combined with the type of mount it has allows it to be positioned almost vertical which is good because of our windshields, plus it has much less depth than my existing one so it will never interfere with my privacy shades.

We have had enough close calls that I need no convincing of the need for a camera that is always recording.

http://http://www.amazon.com/WheelWitness-PRO-2304×1296-Dashboard-Ambarella/dp/B00OTZWJE2/ref=pd_sxp_f_pt

[Ronald]

I asked all you big riggers about a dash cam a year ago and nobody answered my thread.

Now you want one but more thought is needed. Where you mount it is paramount for viewing. Mine is over the dash board low enough so it doesn’t catch my shade and gives good viewing but I had heard this from others and one thing that kills the camera is heat.

I burned mine up in a year. Take it I’m in a warm climate but it is something to think about when mounting. I wanted to put it by the center post somewhere but it interfered with the shade. Because of the way our front end is, it’s hard to put it in a good spot. The mounts are limited for what we need.

Later

bv

[Dick]

dash camera, which Jon suggested a couple of years ago. It is a 2 lens camera filming forward and back into the cabin and recording what you say (!!!)

The original camera is no longer available but they do have a new version.

http://www.spytechs.com/Car-Cameras/Drive-Proof-Car-Camera-DP210.htm

[Mike]

Jon,

Thanks for the link. Read what was there and was interested until I got to the, “plug it into the cigarette lighter” part. I ditched my cigarette lighter long ago as a 12V power source for my Cobra all in one CB. Now I have to go out to the scrap parts pile or some oldies junk yard and get a new to me cigarette lighter to power the camera. Humm, maybe there is a 12V power source I can use with a USB connection in my new Entertainment unit up front. Think I’ll go check the specs to see if there is any mention of it.

Will

[Archived]

I was really impressed with the driver of the semi with the camera. I was amazed he got that thing hauled down like that and made the corner. From the sounds as he moved away from the first intersection, it sounded like he had a heavy load.

It wouldn’t surprise me that the newer dash cams are powered by USB. I’m looking for what I think is a simple powered USB box with four to six ports that I can simply wire into the 12 volt system … but so far it looks like no one makes that. I find a bunch with the cigarette lighter plug which I don’t want. Want to get away from that.

I’m probably going to replace some of the existing 120volt outlets with 120volt/powered USB outlets. Anyone have luck with those? Those are nice, but I want to wire into the 12 volt side the chassis.

You might recall our first trip in a Prevost was the summer of 2013 when we rented a 1989 40′ Country Coach in Kaukauna (between Appleton and Green Bay, WI). Then we hooked the 24′ enclosed race trailer up and headed for lower Michigan. About 15 miles south of home on the four lane (two in each direction) portion of I-43 where there is NO shoulder along the median or the right hand side I was in the right lane. Moderate to heavy traffic, moving about 50 to 55mph (55mph speed limit). A junky car (I think you know where this is going) was coming down the on ramp from Good Hope Road (I think). I had cars to my left and couldn’t move over. I knew we where long which would make it hard for the guy to get in behind me. The guy didn’t seem to be accelerating too much so I lifted off the throttle, tapped the air horns a few times, and motioned for him to get in hoping he could see my hand/arm motions, understand I was trying to help him out, and get moving before he had no opening.

I don’t think the guy saw me. I couldn’t move to the left, he had no shoulder for an escape, so I knew he had to get in front of me.

I really didn’t know what was behind me which was over 70′ away from me so I was reluctant to brake hard, unless that was the only way I’d avoid a collision.

Finally I think he saw me, accelerated, and got into my lane ahead of me. No harm, no foul.

What happened next really floored me. The guy brakes moderately, he is right in front of me, now I have tp apply moderate braking knowing anyone behind can’t see around me to know what is going on. There are still cars and trucks to my left so I have no where to go. There is no room for the bus on the right shoulder (George and Corey now we’re in front of Nicolet High School). I get hard on the air horns. The guy turns around will still braking and gives me the finger through the back window. He takes us from about 50mph down to 25mph on the interstate, which really scared me about what was going on behind me and then suddenly takes off and is gone before I can get his plate number.

I thought what a really wonderful person. I tried to help him merge into traffic rather than cutting him off which would have been so easy to do, then he pulls that crap.

Another great reason to have a dash cam.

[Archived]

Just placed order for above dash cam . Thanks, Jon

[Archived]

This is the one I have.

Panorama G

I’m very happy with the quality of video and the way it works. It has all the normal good stuff that records GPS data and includes a sensor that will detect a collision and write a permanent file that can be retrieved much later.

One issue I found is that it needs to be mounted “right side up” in order for the collision function to work correctly. One of our PC members mounted a Garmin dash cam upside down without a problem. I could not do that with this dash camera.

Here are pics from an eariler post:

Dash

[Larry & Diane]

Has anyone actually used their dash-cam to get them out of jam?

[Dick]

I bought a Garmin Dash Cam 20 with built in GPS.. It’s HD …very small and of course plug and play… I also bought a 32gb micro SD card which is probably an overkill, but it works well. It’s usually found on sale for around $200.

I did not see an angle degree listed on mine but I can see all lanes and a lot of the median on both sides of coach…. as it is installed on the right side of the drivers window very close to the edge… so it’s pretty well centered.

Also has a very good suction cup for a windshield installation and as Jon pointed out… the blinds close without removing it.

Cheers, Diane

[Archived]

I’ve used a dash cam for more than 5 years now but have never had to rely on it. I carry fire extinguishers and wear seat belts and hope I never have to rely on them either.

I have found the camera does 2 things. The first is it affects my driving. It might be age, but it is likely the camera that makes me think a little before I do something stupid like trying to tailgate someone who has pissed me off. I also notice since I cannot control other drivers who pull in too close we are both much less stressed when that happens because if we do rear end that car we have the video showing it pulled in to close and then hit the brakes. So far so good, and we hope to keep it that way.

The camera works against us however if we tend to do stupid bus tricks.

[Archived]

If you do something stupid, can’t you just erase the evidence, the government does it all the time and it seems to work well.

[Archived]

If the camera records you doing something stupid remove the card which is about as big as a fingernail, or just take the camera off the windshield and hide it. I have no erase capability on either camera. The problem today is there are cameras everywhere. Highway departments have them all over the interstates, there are security cameras and as we are realizing, more and more vehicles have them so hiding the evidence is no assurance your stupid bus trick is not recorded somewhere.