An apparatus including a capture device and one or more sensors. The capture device may be configured to operate in a standby mode of operation until a wakeup signal is received and operate in video capture mode of operation in response to the wakeup signal. The sensors may each be configured to detect a trigger condition and communicate the wakeup signal in response to detecting the trigger condition. The capture device may be configured to consume a first amount of power in the standby mode of operation and a second amount of power in the video capture mode of operation. The first amount of power may be less than the second amount of power. The capture device may be configured to generate pixel data in the video capture mode of operation. Each of the sensors may be remotely located on a vehicle with respect to the capture device.