Automobile "black boxes"

[thewayne]

http://blog.wired.com/cars/#1537457

Black Boxes Rules Spur Debate

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) will set rules within a month governing what information can and cannot be collected in the black box that may be in your vehicle.

In the event of a crash, the boxes (also known as event data recorders) record information including speed and steering. Time magazine details several cases where drivers were convicted of speeding and hit and runs based on the black box data, and Progressive Insurance is offering to lower rates to drivers who install the devices.

Sixty million of the boxes are installed in vehicles today, but auto manufacturers are not required to disclose if they install them. The rules will set a standard interface for downloading the information as today the boxes are proprietary,

Privacy advocates would like to see the boxes eliminated, while Public Citizen argues they should be required in all vehicles. There are four books by author Thomas M. Kowalick discussing the pros and cons of the debate. Since they only record data in the event of a crash, I think they are useful in helping to determine driver fault or manufacturer liability, but the auto companies must disclose if they are included.


My 2005 Toyota has a very detailed description inside the front cover of the owner's manual that describes exactly what the black box records. Interesting stuff. If I were drunk and in an accident, that data would be very damning. I can see using this data for serious or deadly accidents, but convicted of speeding? And Progressive offering lower rates if you install one? I'd love to see their data trying to prove that people with black boxes are safer drivers.

One thing that I don't like, as pointed out by a reply to the original article on Wired, is that it can be seen as an easy way to avoid police work. I don't think that will happen, but by the same token, it is also potential leverage against manufacturer defects. If I have an accident and claim that I didn't lose control and the black box shows something irregular happened, there's no reason why it could not be used against the car manufacturer.

I spoke about the black box in my car in a previous post.

Comments

[thedragonweaver.livejournal.com]

It would certainly make the forensics people's jobs easier, and I certainly don't object to that because they have too much work coming in as it is. Of course, I'm fascinated by the whole concept of forensics to begin with (as is the whole nation, apparently; what's next, CSI: Winnemucca?)