This could be the smartest dash cam yet

If you’re in the market for a new dash cam, you’ll know how many options are out there.

Now, UK company Nextbase has created one that does much more than record traffic incidents and hysterical road rage scenes.

Clever new technology will now allow you to speak to your dash cam (through the use of Amazon Alexa), as well as have emergency services called directly to the scene of a serious crash, if you’re unable to do so.

What's more, the latest Nextbase dash cam's ability to dial 000 via a call centre in the event of a major collision is exclusive to Australia.

Several car-makers offer such embedded technology in their vehicles, but the beauty here is the potentially life-saving functionality can be retrofitted in any vehicle.

Nextbase’s new Series 2 range of dash cams will also come with features such as intelligent parking mode and slow-motion video, among other things.

Set to be available for the first time in Australia and New Zealand, they will be sold at select retail chains including Harvey Norman, Camera House, Officeworks and more.

The five-model camera line-up spans in price from $99 to $399.99 – comprising of the 122, 222, 322GW, 422GW and 522GW.

The Emergency SOS feature is available on mid-range 322GW cameras and above, able to run through 23 protocols to determine the severity of a crash before sending a package of data to an operations centre, which will then try to call the dash cam’s owner.

Nextbase says if there’s no response, emergency services will be dispatched, with the integrator “feeding information to the 000 operator”, which may include things such as location data, travelling direction, blood type and next of kin details.

Meanwhile, in everyday situations, Alexa can help find car parking, check the weather, take a photo, read news and even control smart home devices from within the car.

It can also be linked to your phone via Bluetooth, letting you review, edit and publish videos direct from your phone, including information like GPS data, speed and G-force.

Nextbase, which already sells dash cams in the UK, USA and Europe, also offers free online storage through the MyNextbase Cloud.

Rear-view cameras and a range of other accessories are also able to be added.

The company’s director, Richard Browning, says the UK brand is thrilled to enter the Aussie market.

“We are looking forward to helping Australians not only drive smarter but, crucially, safer,” he said.

“2020 has seen limited air and sea travel for Australians, and for those states where it’s permitted we’ve already seen increased interest in holidaying by car.

“As COVID restrictions hopefully continue to ease and allow further intrastate and interstate travel nationwide, we are determined to make sure that those families are staying safe on the roads with the correct tools to do so.”