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At last! Dashcam meets satnav

Dashcams are fast becoming a common sight on South African roads, they have many uses, in fact in February 2015, Wheels24 reported that dashcams  should be fitted to all cars.

But what have Garmin introduced to local motorists? Well it's there take on fusing a sat-nav and a dashcam: the nüviCam LMT.

CONTINUOUS RECORDING

It's Garmin's first portable navigation device to feature a built-in dashcam and advanced alerts to enhance driver awareness on the road. 

Thanks to the integrated dashcam that continuously records and automatically saves files on impact, the nüviCam offers the protection of having an eyewitness that records exactly where and when events occur.

Read: SA needs new dashcam law

The nuviCam offers various systems to assist drivers like Forward Collision Warning2 alerts drivers if they’re driving too close to the car ahead; Lane Departure Warning2 alerts will appear and sound if the driver drifts off the road or into oncoming traffic; and Garmin Real Vision takes the guess work out of deciphering hard-to-see house numbers by displaying the camera view along with a bright arrow to direct drivers where to go when approaching select destinations.

HIGH-DEFINITION QUALITY

The device features a six-inch pinch-to-zoom glass display with an HD dashcam built in to the back of the device. When powered on, the integrated dashcam continuously records on the included 4GB microSD card, and if an incident occurs, the device’s incident detection will automatically save files on impact.

A global positioning system records exactly where and when events occur, and drivers can play back the video on the device or from a computer using garmin.com/dashcamplayer. A snapshot feature on the device that allows drivers to capture still images in or outside of the vehicle. 

Watch: Dashcam captures caravan destruction

The usual navigation features like voice-activated directions which also allows drivers to speak commands to the device while their hands stay safely on the wheel, and Bluetooth wireless technology for hands-free calling.

SMARTPHONE LINK

Smartphone Link, a free mobile app that connects nüviCam with a compatible iPhone or Android smartphone, can also provide real-time data services3, such as Garmin Traffic or safety cameras to the navigator.

To make sure drivers never miss a turn, the nüviCam utilises Lane Assist and Junction views, which uses a combination of voice prompts and visual cues to prepare users to drive through an exit or interchange with confidence. "Up Ahead" appears alongside the driving map and constantly informs of nearby services, including restaurants, petrol stations and spoken Garmin Real Directions guides drivers to recognisable landmarks, buildings and traffic lights.

Additional features included:

 •  Speed limit warnings

 •  PhotoReal junction view

 •  Bird’s eye junction view 

The nüviCam comes preloaded with detailed maps of Southern Africa and free lifetime map5 updates are included to ensure the most up-to-date maps are available. 

Wow, that's a hefty price tag: The nüviCam is available at a suggested retail price of R4 999 and is available immediately.

CHEAPER OPTION?

Wheels24's resident columnist wrote about how he converted his smartphone into a dashcam by simply downloading an app for R39 and purchasing a bracket to mount his phone on the front windscreen. Pretty simple.

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