I've been following the threads on various sub-forums about both Ensurance and car cameras. I decided a couple of weeks ago to sign up for Ensurance for both of our family cars - mainly because it's free.

 

Car cameras cost money, so that took a lot more thought. I considered getting two for my wife's car (front and back) and one for mine. I settled for three Blackvue DR380G cameras and fitted them yesterday.

 

Today, my wife went shopping at the local supermarket and, yes, she got pranged in the car park!!! It's all been captured on the rear camera, in glorious detail.

 

The other vehicle stopped and the driver blamed my wife - but he doesn't know his manoeuvre has been recorded...yet. One phone call to Ensurance, and they've taken it on. Now the video evidence is in the post to them.

 

I'm not so foolish as to predict the eventual outcome, but, without the video evidence, it would have been her word against his.

 

If anyone is going through the same Should I? Shouldn't I? thought processes that I've been through for the past few weeks, just think on this. For me, tomorrow would have been too late.

Guess the best bit is its taken a big weight of your wifes shoulders knowing she can prove it was the lying toads fault and not hers. Let us know the outcome- based on the evidence you should get a car too while hers is being repaired with his insurance footing the bill.

We've got three Blackvue in the family now, and this is a timely reminder to get my finger out and put the third one in the misses Mazzy  :think:

 

Gaz

Guess the best bit is its taken a big weight of your wifes shoulders knowing she can prove it was the lying toads fault and not hers. Let us know the outcome- based on the evidence you should get a car too while hers is being repaired with his insurance footing the bill.

Yes, she was very relieved and rather enjoyed (if that's the right word) watching the playback. The other driver reckons he's going to claim for a new wing. The video shows his minor damage very clearly, so it will be interesting to see if he produces a photo of a badly crumpled wing. I really hope he does .

 

To be honest, from the research I've done so far, many, if not most, car park prangs are dealt with as 50/50 by the insurance companies, but I'm hoping that won't happen in this case. Although even that is better than 0/100. It'll be interesting to see how Ensurance (aka Lawshield) deals with it.

 

The damage isn't much (rear bumper) and, as we have two cars and we're both retired, I'm not that fussed about a courtesy car.

 

I'd like to post the footage, but that's not a good idea until after any arguments have been sorted. But I'm 100% sold on car cams now. The BlackVue performed brilliantly.

Give him enough rope..... They don't like fraudsters so if he tries it'll cost him big time. I think they go 50/50 as its cheaper overall for them as both policy holders loose out and they keep admin costs dealing with the claim down if they are unable to prove blame. Your vid should overcome that. Good luck

I am a big fan of drive recorders!

Have saved us a fortune.

I want to get one of these, can you turn off their ability to record sound?

Don't like the idea of my conversations / terrible singing / foul language being recorded!

I've been meaning to buy one for ages, I think after Christmas is out the way I'll get one.

I have thought about getting one as i believe the driving standards in this country has got worse.

Ive been considering one as last week a typical rochdale taxi driver blatently tried to cause a prang

I want to get one of these, can you turn off their ability to record sound?

Don't like the idea of my conversations / terrible singing / foul language being recorded!

i was thinking same especially as ive just started a new job and have to drive through middle of leeds everyday

I want to get one of these, can you turn off their ability to record sound?

Don't like the idea of my conversations / terrible singing / foul language being recorded!

Depends on the model, but on the blackvue it's easy to do.

I want to get one of these, can you turn off their ability to record sound?

Don't like the idea of my conversations / terrible singing / foul language being recorded!

I can only comment regarding the ones I have, BlackVue DR 380G (but I believe the instructions for the DR 400G are the same).

 

It comes with a utility program, which, apart from playing the recorded clips and displaying the speed, G-forces etc., allows the user to choose whether the sound recording is on or off, whether the sound cues are played, which lights are displayed on the camera body, adjust the sensitivity of the G-force detector in the various recording modes and more.

 

While it might sound complicated,the instructions are clear enough and it is really simple to configure the camera how you want it. All these settings are changed within the program, with the microSD card from the camera connected to your computer (USB card reader is included). The changes are then saved to the card and transmitted to the camera when the card is reinserted.

 

An afterthought regarding the recorded sound, if you leave the setting ON in the camera and later wish to save clips onto your hard drive, when each clip is 'exported', a check box can be ticked to exclude the sound from the clip that is being exported.

I am seriously considering this 'mod'.  SWMBO got reversed into in a well-known brand supermarket car park whilst stationary waiting for somebody to vatae a space.  A guy beside her just reversed out and hit her rear wing (not happy as it was a pristine low-milage Boxster S).  He got out and said 'I haven't reversed into anybody for ages....'.  Good job I wasn't in the car at the time!!  However, it just so happens that one of the CCTV cameras from the petrol station was aimed into that particular area (other issues) and the manager of the supermarket went and checked and the incident had all been caught/recorded (thank goodness).  They saved it for her should she have needed it, however, our insewerance company told the third parties company that we had the event on film and they put their hands up straight away and took 100% blame.  Car was fixed with two weeks (at a cost of nearly 3K).