Should the motion detection of the dash cam be turned on?
3 Answers
The motion detection of the dash cam should be turned on. Motion detection acts as the sensory organ of the dash cam. When it detects movement of objects in front, it will activate the dash cam to record the surrounding scenes. When no movement is detected and the environment is static, the dash cam will enter a sleep mode. This ensures both parking safety monitoring and energy conservation, preventing battery drain. Dash cams with parking monitoring function abandon traditional power supply methods like cigarette lighter or USB ports, instead using a step-down cable to draw power directly from the ACC fuse box. After the vehicle is parked and turned off, the dash cam will automatically shut down and enter a low-power sleep state. Once a collision is detected or movement is sensed in front, the dash cam will immediately wake up and start recording the surrounding scenes.
Personally, I think it's best to keep the motion detection feature of the dashcam enabled. After all, it can automatically detect movements around the vehicle when parked and start recording, such as someone approaching or a minor collision, which enhances anti-theft and collision protection. However, there are downsides too. For example, on windy days or when parked in a park, it might mistakenly record swaying leaves or birds flying by, wasting storage space or even draining the battery prematurely. I'd recommend adjusting the settings based on where you usually park—enable it in higher-risk areas like neighborhoods or roadside spots, but you might turn it off if parked in your own garage. Anyway, I've found it gives me peace of mind, especially at night, as it provides recorded evidence just in case something happens.
From a safety perspective, I advocate enabling the motion detection feature as it acts like a vigilant 'eye,' constantly monitoring activities around the vehicle. If abnormal movements are detected, such as someone bumping into the car in a parking lot, it immediately starts recording, helping to prevent property damage. Of course, this feature consumes SD card space faster, but compared to potential safety losses, this minor issue is negligible; by selecting moderate sensitivity, it can effectively filter out irrelevant movements. Remember to regularly check the battery to avoid insufficient power after prolonged standby.
