I have often heard cyclists say they want a video loop camera to catch
drivers harassing them. After just having a car full of teenagers swerve at
me (while the passengers gawked) so obviously the driver couldn't merge down
the road, I thought how easily I could have gotten the driver charged if I
had video. Better yet, when I catch up with these people, they often open
their mouth and basically admit what they just did, by at least saying
something like: "you should be on the sidewalk" (establishing motive).
Good video would obviously meant the difference between this jerk laughing
it up with his friends and having his license revoked and facing assault
with a deadly weapon.
So I mailed the following to Olympus (I've got two of their memory cards
already). I figure aside from making some money, imagine the effect of just
a few stories of road ragers getting convicted and them rolling the tape on
TV.
I'm not currently in the LAB, but I figure they could contact the camera
makers for such cameras. I'm emailing them, too. If you think you would
like such a product (it would also work as a conventional digital camera)
let them know too.
MOTORISTS AND CYCLISTS WANT DIGITAL SAFETY CAMS
I am requesting your help here because I own a Stylus 400, and have two Xd
memory chips I would like to put to further use. Aside from a new market
for your products, a "safety cam" that recorded a constant video and sound
loop until you stopped it would be great public relations work.
"Road Raging" motorists regularly perform illegal maneuvers and endanger
other motorists and cyclists. If we had a dash or handlebar mounted camera
that recorded a video loop, and stopped recording when we selected, this
would be a powerful tool for road safety. With well publicized use of
these, aggressive drivers would have to consider that their behavior might
be recorded. Given the severe fines for this, this would be a powerful
disincentive.
Cyclists in particular would love this. "Road Ragers" harass cyclists by
swerving at them, squeezing them against the shoulder or parked cars,
throwing things at them, yelling or honking loudly just as they pass, etc.
Some have deliberately rammed cyclists.
These drivers (who are probably the same self-righteous lot that make
driving so aggravating) think it is fun, but the cyclist who sees a rear
view mirror full of grill doesn't know whether the guy will hit them,
accidentally or not. By the definition of the law, this is assault with a
deadly weapon (though not with intent to kill).
We cyclists have long wanted a digital camera with a handlebar mount
and a video loop mode. It would stop recording when we stop it, or an
accident tips the bike and knocks it loose. The mount should also pivot, so
as the driver passes, the cyclist can record things such as the driver or
passenger looking back to see the effects of their behavior (an obvious
giveaway compared to the careless driver who just misjudged the cyclist's
speed.
For example, last week a teenager swerved at me while his three
passengers gawked. He was so busy swerving to the right of the road; he
wound up not merging down the road. This would have easily been recorded.
Right now, instead of laughing it up with his friends, he would be facing
certain license suspension, and criminal court knowing the Prosecutor had
video of his driving.
Believe it or not, it is typically easy to get these people to admit it
when you catch up with them. For example (if I even get a word in before
they start) I ask: "What was that all about" Instead of an apology or
ignorance, they say: "You shouldn't be on the road" or "You should be on the
sidewalk".
Now imagine how such people would behave once news stories of them
endangering motorists, cyclists, or even pedestrians (complete with footage)
got out?
You would be doing a great service if you modified one of your small,
inexpensive digital cameras for this. I would also like to have a cheaper,
1 Meg camera for web photos and such, anyway. It would also be good just to
have running if you saw something interesting.
Thank you
--
Robert Haston
Satellite Beach, FL