CRA Motoring & Technology News – South Africa
• Ford has fitted an additional USB charging port located in the rearview mirror for easy fitment of dash cams.
• The US car company says it is responding to the trend of motorists fitting dash-cam’s in the event of supporting evidence for insurance claims from accidents.
• Only the Ranger Raptor, Wildtrak and Thunder models will be available with the USB charging port.
Many motorists have or know of people who have dash-cams fitted to their cars. It has become increasingly popular to keep track of your commute and in the event of an accident one has the footage on record.
Ford South Africa is responding to the trend of necessary technology for on-road safety by fitting a USB charging port located in the rear-view mirror.
Dash cams are now widely available and can be quickly fitted – and removed – in any vehicle and require no permanent attachments. One of the biggest motivations for owning a dash cam is for the credible supporting evidence they can provide to any motorist involved in a road incident.
Available on Ranger Raptor, Thunder and Wildtrak models
Ford has added a USB power outlet in the rearview mirror of the latest Ranger Raptor, Thunder and Wildtrak derivatives as standard and adds a level of convenience and neatness to the fitment of any windscreen mounted dash-cam.
It is also practical and eliminates the charging cable that would traditionally run across the windscreen or the dashboard from the camera to the power source, usually located in the dashboard.
This can be done without negatively affecting the functionality of the rear-view mirror. The USB power outlet is additional to the existing number of power outlets found in the vehicle so that the use of other devices such as smartphones is not impacted says the company.
Thankfully the new USB power outlet is universally compatible with most mainstream dash cams on sale. Ford says those who prefer to buy new accessories from Ford-Approved dealers will be able to choose from the latest Mio range of dash cameras, fitted with advanced features like GPS tracking, vibration detection and real-time smartphone backup.
Driving Skills For Life, which uses Ford’s vehicles to raise the standard of young drivers in South Africa, also supports the use of dash-cams. “It’s safe to say that if you haven’t already gone out and purchased a dash cam for your car, now would be an excellent time to do so. The peace of mind they generate alone is, for most people, more than worth it,” says Derek Kirkby training director at DSFL.
Article Credit to Wheels 24.