As you all know by now, a meteor streaked across the Siberian sky last night, injuring hundreds of people. Not by hitting anyone, mind you, but because its sonic boom shattered windows. As you also probably know, there’s lots and lots of video of the meteor. Is that because Russians are especially vigilant about watching the sky? No. It’s because Russian drivers are really into dashboard cameras. And why is that?
The dashboard camera craze has really taken off in the past couple of years, but for the dullest of reasons: Insurance.
According to Radio Free Europe, the craze began as the cost of cameras dipped and citizens began fighting back against corrupt traffic cops. They quickly also proved their use in proving fault in an accident and capturing viral videos.
Animal New York also notes that the cameras are excellent in catching other drivers involved in hit-and-run accidents. As with everything else, though, what started as a personal safety fad began to produce local celebrities. There are now television shows and entire websites dedicated to capturing the best — and even reviewing — dashboard cam videos from across the country.
So there you have it.
