Do You Still Need a Dash Cam If You Have a 360-Degree Surround View System?
3 Answers
Yes. They serve different purposes. The surround view cameras can effectively assist drivers who lack "spatial awareness" in understanding their vehicle's direction and position. After installing a dash cam, it can record the entire driving process, including video images and sound, providing evidence for traffic accidents. Here is additional information: Dash Cam: A dash cam should have good camera clarity and night shooting capability. High definition is determined by the main control chip of the dash cam. At this point, car owners need to pay attention to the image processing solution used by the dash cam's main control chip. Additionally, the dash cam must have sufficient storage space to enable long-term effective recording.
Having driven for over a decade, upgrading to a car with a 360-degree panoramic camera made parking much easier. No more worries about hitting walls or getting stuck in narrow spaces while reversing – it feels like my skills have improved significantly. However, it's just a real-time display system, essentially stitching together footage from multiple cameras to create a panoramic view, and it doesn't automatically record or save the driving process. A dash cam is completely different; it continuously records videos and stores them on a memory card. In case of minor accidents, rear-end collisions, or encounters with fraudsters on the road, you can retrieve the footage as evidence. Once, I was sideswiped by someone cutting in aggressively on the ring road, and they even blamed me. Fortunately, having a dash cam cleared my name. The 360-degree camera is too limited, only useful for low-speed parking scenarios and ineffective at high speeds. In contrast, the dash cam covers the entire journey, including high-definition recording at night. I strongly recommend adding a dash cam – it's a small expense that can save you from major troubles. When it comes to safety, you really shouldn't cut corners.
As a young car enthusiast, I'm super satisfied with the 360-degree panoramic camera that comes with new cars. It clearly shows blind spots when parking, helping me avoid mistakes. But to be honest, it's just a parking assist—it doesn't record videos or playback historical footage. A dash cam is the essential device that records 24/7 and saves all road incidents. Once, I got sideswiped by someone changing lanes in heavy traffic, and they refused to admit fault. The dash cam footage was the only thing that settled the dispute. No matter how advanced the 360 system is, it doesn't have this functionality—it only helps with blind spots, not post-accident disputes. Adding a dash cam is simple; just pick one with Wi-Fi for a few hundred bucks, and you can check recordings on your phone—super convenient. No matter how high-tech your car's system is, a dash cam is a must-have for doubling your driving safety.
