Should the Motion Detection While Driving Be Turned On?
4 Answers
Generally, the motion detection function while driving should be turned on because it does not consume much power and provides good vehicle protection when the owner is not present. The motion detection function in a dash cam is similar to parking surveillance. When the vehicle is turned off and stationary, it relies on the dash cam's own power or the car battery to operate. While the motion detection function is active, the dash cam remains powered on but does not record footage. It only starts recording and saves the footage to the dash cam's hard drive when the vehicle body shakes or there is a change in the dash cam's field of view. This effectively prevents situations where the vehicle is scratched by external objects without the owner being able to find evidence.
I think the driving motion detection feature should be kept on in most situations. Having driven for ten years myself, I've always kept it activated, especially when parking in the city or during traffic jams. It automatically starts recording if there's suspicious movement around, helping document collisions or theft attempts. In case of an accident, the video evidence is extremely useful—I once relied on it to settle an insurance claim. However, be aware that it consumes more battery, particularly in older vehicles, which may risk draining the battery when parked. I recommend investing in a good dash cam with auto power-off protection and regularly clearing the memory card to prevent it from filling up. Overall, it adds an extra layer of security without being cumbersome to operate—just make it a habit. The peace of mind when driving is worth the minor maintenance effort for that added protection.
The moving detection feature is quite convenient, especially for my long daily commute. It automatically detects movements after activation, saving me the hassle of manual operation. The advantage is that in chaotic urban traffic, if pedestrians or vehicles suddenly approach, it records in advance to avoid missing details. However, the downside is the high power consumption, which can easily drain the battery during long parking periods. Once, after parking all day at work, my car wouldn't start, and I found the battery completely drained. It's advisable to pair it with a high-capacity battery and lower the sensitivity to avoid frequent false triggers. During normal driving, keeping it on is fine since the dashcam consumes little power—safety first. Regularly backing up the footage card is also a good habit to prevent insufficient space from affecting functionality. Weighing the pros and cons, I still prefer keeping it on unless I know the car won't be used all day.
Whether to enable driving motion detection depends on the situation. I usually keep it on while driving—it's convenient as it automatically starts recording when detecting changes without manual intervention, which is handy for sudden incidents on the road. However, note that it consumes a small amount of power continuously. If your battery isn't strong, prolonged parking might pose a risk. I once turned it off for weeks on an old car without issues, but regretted missing footage when the mirror got scratched. For beginners, I recommend keeping it enabled, especially when parking at night or in unfamiliar areas—it's useful for theft and collision prevention. Remember, it stops when storage is full, so check monthly and make it a habit. A little hassle for safety is worth the investment.
