When you drive a taxi or Uber/Lyft for a living or to make extra change, you are bound to encounter unexpected situations. Not only on the road but also inside of your vehicle. Therefore, a dependable dash cam that can record both the road and the interior of your vehicle is a must. In this post, we will go over the reasons BlackVue might have the Uber dash cam or Lyft dash cam you need, and why they are good options even if you don’t drive for a living.

BlackVue dash cams that record the interior of your vehicle

Each BlackVue dash cam series (DR970X, DR770X, etc.) comes in different versions. Dual channel (2 cameras) models have a front camera, typically the recording unit, and small-sized rear camera that connects to it. For taxi or rideshare drivers, as well as individuals who want to record the interior of their vehicles, BlackVue created the “IR” range of cameras. IR stands for infrared and we use it to refer to dual-channel model where the rear cam is swapped for a driver-facing camera equipped with infrared LEDs. We also have triple-channel models with a front, interior and rear camera, such as the DR770X Box. In all those models, the interior camera also features infrared LEDs. Finally, the BlackVue DMS (Driver Monitoring System) camera combines infrared recording and real-time drowsiness and distraction detection and alerts. You can find all these models on the BlackVue Taxi Dashcams page.

BlackVue dash cams with infrared interior camera:

Dual-camera models:

• DR970X-2CH IR (4K front recording and Cloud compatibility)
• DR770X-2CH IR LTE (Front Full HD 60 FPS recording and built-in LTE)
• DR770X-2CH IR (Front Full HD 60 FPS recording and Cloud compatibility)
• DR770X-2CH DMS (Front Full HD 60 FPS with Driver Monitoring Camera)
• DR590X-2CH IR (Dual Full HD and Wi-Fi (no Cloud features))

Triple-camera models:

• DR770X Box (Full HD front, interior and rear)
• DR770X Box Truck (Full HD front, interior and external waterproof rear)

Ultrawide Interior Cam Models

All the latest BlackVue Taxi Dashcam models feature an ultrawide infrared interior camera. The diagonal angle of view of those ultrawide cameras (for both dual and triple-channel models) is close to 180°. The two exceptions are the interior cameras of the DR590X-2CH IR (140°) and the DR770X-2CH DMS camera (115°), which main purpose is to monitor the driver.

Benefits of ultrawide interior cameras

Ultimately, what makes for a good Uber dash cam is its capacity to secure the interior of a vehicle. To that end, an ultrawide driver-facing camera, combined with infrared illumination, is highly beneficial in a number of situations. The wide angle allows to include in the frame both the passenger-side and driver side windows in most vehicles. This provides:

• Full interior coverage: with a wider angle, no matter where you plan to install the driver-facing camera, you get a full view of the vehicle’s interior. This gives you more leeway as to where to place the interior camera. Adding the infrared LEDs, you can rest assured that should anything go wrong with a customer, your BlackVue will record clear evidence, day and night.
• Parking Mode protection: in Parking Mode, the ultrawide interior camera allows you to capture not only potential break-ins but also other acts of vandalism such as sideswipes or keying events. With infrared LEDs and a wide angle of view, your vehicle is monitored reliably wherever you park, whether you leave it unattended for a quick break or for the night.
• Deterrence and protection against law enforcement misconduct: if only taxi and rideshare drivers just had to worry about their customers. Although we hope you don’t find yourself in this situation, abuse of power by law enforcement officers is a real concern for many drivers, particularly in the US. Unfortunately, the more time you spend on the road increases the likelihood of events like traffic stops happening. With BlackVue’s ultrawide interior cameras, you are able to record not only the interior of your vehicle but also most of the driver-side window, along with audio. All this, without having to manually activate or orient the camera when the unexpected happens.

What it looks like

The video below includes clips recorded with the DR770X-2CH IR.

What to keep in mind when getting an Uber dash cam

Infrared images colors

It goes without saying that an infrared camera does not reproduce colors the same way a standard camera does. That’s especially true in darker environments when the infrared LEDs activate. If for any reason you need accurate color rendition of you interior footage, you should use a regular dual-channel camera instead. However, you will lose the ability to record in pitch black lighting conditions that the infrared sensor and LED illumination provide.

Can you use the infrared camera as a rear camera?

We sometimes get asked if it is possible to use an IR camera as rear camera. It is possible but we do not recommend it. That’s because when the infrared LEDs turn on at night, their light will reflect on your rear windshield. This will make the image worse than if you use a standard rear camera.

We do sell cameras with IR LEDs to record the road behind with our Truck dash cam lineup. The big difference, however, is that the Truck rear cameras are designed to be mounted externally.

Privacy laws in your state or country

Recording the road ahead or behind is usually accepted and legal in a majority of countries. The law may be different when it comes to recording audio and video of the interior of your vehicle, however. For this reason, we recommend doing your own research on whether it is legal to record the interior of your vehicle when driving customers around. You may be required to signal the presence of a camera verbally or in writing, by the presence of a sign or sticker in view of your passengers. Either way, consult with a local lawyer if you cannot find adequate information pertaining to your jurisdiction.

Why are the front and interior cameras separate, if they are both installed on the front windshield?

At BlackVue, we design our cameras so that they don’t get in the way of your driving. In most vehicle, you can install the BlackVue front camera right behind your rearview mirror so the camera does not hinder your field of view. You might not even see it while sitting in the driver’s seat, actually. If we combined the front and interior cameras together, we would have to compromise this stealthiness. That’s because users would have to find a single spot that’s somewhat adequate to record the road and the interior.
Generally, that means making compromises. The interior camera might be in a spot too low to record the cabin clearly. The front camera might be sticking out more on your car’s windshield. In some cases, that could even contravene laws on obstruction to driver’s vision.
Having the interior camera separate from the front camera, users don’t have to compromise the stealthiness of the front camera. Furthermore, they can install the interior camera in a spot that allows for a better view of the interior.
Please note that the IR models come with a shorter video cable so that excess cable management is not really an issue.
We might introduce front and interior all-in-one cameras in the future but when it comes to stealthiness and adaptability, having the front and interior cams separate will always be the superior option.

To learn more about the latest BlackVue Taxi and Rideshare Dashcams lineup, head to this page.