Government to require black boxes in all new cars
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When we talk about getting information from data recorders, we're usually talking about the "black boxes" installed in air planes. But the federal government just proposed a new standard that requires event data recorders in all new cars and light trucks weighing less than 8,500 pounds, starting September of 2014.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says the motivation is safety, but the new push is raising a lot of questions about what happens to the information.
The event data recorders, EDRs for short, are designed to record and preserve specific information during the 5 to 10 seconds before a collision, perhaps a few seconds after. How fast was the vehicle traveling? Were the brakes activated? What was the force of impact? When did the airbag deploy? Was the seat belt buckled?
Right now EDRs are voluntary. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration wants them mandatory to give crash investigators critical information that might not otherwise be available to evaluate the dynamics of a collision. The proposed regulation also requires car makers to provide commercially available tools for retrieving the black box information so the data cannot be controlled or withheld, by the manufacturer.
Safety advocates like the idea. Manufacturers say it's not necessary, since most new vehicles already have the boxes. Privacy advocates worry there are no limits on how the information can be used.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says it's investigators could only have access to your EDR data if you give permission. But the information could be obtained without your permission, by law enforcement, insurance companies and attorneys. In fact, EDR information has been used increasingly in court- to refute testimony when drivers change the facts about how a collision occurred.
Public comment on the proposal will be accepted starting Monday, Dec. 10. The comment period will only be open for 60 days. For more information and a link to add your comments, visit nhtsa.gov.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says the motivation is safety, but the new push is raising a lot of questions about what happens to the information.
The event data recorders, EDRs for short, are designed to record and preserve specific information during the 5 to 10 seconds before a collision, perhaps a few seconds after. How fast was the vehicle traveling? Were the brakes activated? What was the force of impact? When did the airbag deploy? Was the seat belt buckled?
Right now EDRs are voluntary. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration wants them mandatory to give crash investigators critical information that might not otherwise be available to evaluate the dynamics of a collision. The proposed regulation also requires car makers to provide commercially available tools for retrieving the black box information so the data cannot be controlled or withheld, by the manufacturer.
Safety advocates like the idea. Manufacturers say it's not necessary, since most new vehicles already have the boxes. Privacy advocates worry there are no limits on how the information can be used.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says it's investigators could only have access to your EDR data if you give permission. But the information could be obtained without your permission, by law enforcement, insurance companies and attorneys. In fact, EDR information has been used increasingly in court- to refute testimony when drivers change the facts about how a collision occurred.
Public comment on the proposal will be accepted starting Monday, Dec. 10. The comment period will only be open for 60 days. For more information and a link to add your comments, visit nhtsa.gov.
Big Brother is already here and listening. Â This just makes his job easier.
The first thing I would do is disable it.
Anything you do can and will be used against you in a court of law.   This is not about gathering information for safety or to assist in future automotive designs. This is about collecting data for no other purpose than to be used against you.Â
Of course the argument will always be present, "if your doing nothing wrong..."
We have built heavy industries of Gov't departments analyzing what you did, how you did it and determine if they can prosecute you. Right or wrong lost it's relevancy.Â
Half the shows on TV these days have and continue to program America into thinking this is the way it should be.Â
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My cynicism is put away now. Return to the holidays. oh wait.
Big Brother is real in America after all!
Glad I own an old car.
 @JamieÂ
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Yeah same here.
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Nothing better than knowing that first, YOU'RE in control of the car, it isnât in control of itself, second you can actually fix it with an over the shelf tool not a hundreds of thousands of dollar diagnostic equipment, and best, no one knows or can control where you go.
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It does not hurt should the âRuskies (or the Chinese) nuke the US your car won't fail under an EMP (although if you're close enough to get hat effect you may well have bigger issues).
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1973 Ford Courier. The only thing electronic about it is its lights.
sSoon to be in the news, People will be dissabling the "black boxes".
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@lee986321Â Â """""Â People will be dissabling the "black boxes".""""""
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doubtful, the so called black box will probably be just some additional memory within the cars ECM.  It won't have to be in a protective enclosure as an aircraft  black box (which is actually orange)
@lee986321 which will be a felony the same way disabling the black box in an aircraft is.
 @Ramsesthegreat  @lee986321 Of course. I can understand tamping with an aircraft black box, I mean it isn't yours, but the car is.
But, but...someone musta stole it, Occifer!
Government intrusion and tracking. Creeping into your life everyday because they know what's best for you. Obamas said so.
@Rob C 503 yes just like all the terrible uses that have come from using black boxes in aircraft for decades. Spare me you're conspiracy theory garbage that da gubment is out to get you.
 @Ramsesthegreat  Um, the government is out to spy on you in every shape and form possible.