Data Recorder (Black Box)

[gary h]

On the News tonight the talk was about the "Black Box" Being in every new car starting in 2014.Our cars allready have them right? Or is this a newer way for Big Brother to keep an Eye on us.

[CURT LF]

From 1998 to 2001, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) sponsored a working group specifically tasked with the study of EDRs. After years of evaluation, NHTSA released a formal Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in 2004. This notice declared NHTSA’s intent to standardize EDRs. It was not until August 2006 that NHTSA released its final ruling (49 CFR Part 563). The ruling was lengthy (207 pages), consisting of not only definitions and mandatory EDR standards, but also acted as a formal reply to the dozens of petitions received by NHTSA after the 2004 notice.

Since there was already an overwhelming trend for voluntary EDR installation, the ruling did not require manufacturers to install EDRs in vehicles produced for North America. Based on its analysis, NHTSA estimated that by 2010, over 85% of vehicles would already have EDRs installed in them, but warned that if the trend did not continue, the agency would revisit their decision and possibly make installation a requirement.

The mandate did, however, provide a minimum standard for the type of data that EDRs would be required to record: at least 15 types of crash data. Some of the required crash data include pre-crash speed, engine throttle, brake use, measured changes in forward velocity (Delta-V), driver safety belt use, airbag warning lamp status and airbag deployment times.

In addition to the required data, NHTSA also set standards for 30 other types of data if EDRs were voluntarily configured to record them. For example, if a manufacturer configured an EDR to record engine RPMs or ABS activity, then the EDR would have to record 5 seconds of those pre-crash data in half-second increments.

Besides the requirement that all data be able to survive a 30 MPH barrier crash and be measured with defined precision, NHTSA also required that all manufacturers make their EDR data publicly available. As of October 2009, only General Motors, Ford and Daimler Chrysler had released their EDR data to be publicly read.

In the August 2006 ruling, NHTSA set a time table for all vehicle manufacturers to be in compliance with the new EDR standards. The compliance date was originally set for all vehicles manufactured after September 1, 2010. NHTSA has since updated its ruling (49 CFR Part 563 Update) to give vehicle manufacturers until September 1, 2012 to be in compliance with the original ruling.

[USRWDV8]

It's nothing new. They started this quietly in the '90s and I remember being shocked to read about that years later and find my then current vehicle on the list. Big Brother? Well, your car has been turned into a snitch like most of your environment (smile - you're probably on camera). It's OK; it's for the children. http://www.harristechnical.com/downloads/cdrlist.pdf

[Robo]

Here's the full list of cars with CDR's - see what other vehicles you've owned that had them.

http://www.crashdataservices.net/fil...erage_List.pdf

The Bosch Crash Data Retrieval Software and Hardware
products support the retrieval of crash data from Airbag
Control Modules (ACM), Roll-over Sensors (ROS) and
Powertrain Control Modules (PCM) installed in vehicles
listed in this document as indicated by the markings in
the column labeled ‘‘Module’’

[R/T FAN]

So if I'm doing 60 in a 55 and someone in a pre black box car runs a stop sign and They die in the wreck, then I am liable because I got a box that says I was breaking the law.

Wonderful...........

[huggytree]

30 days ago people voted for Big Brother to be in control.....

the other 49% of us are screwed

[Yahooligan]

Originally Posted by R/T FAN

So if I'm doing 60 in a 55 and someone in a pre black box car runs a stop sign and They die in the wreck, then I am liable because I got a box that says I was breaking the law.

Wonderful...........

Uh, no...

EDRs don't replace other evidence. Obviously if someone ran a stop sign then they would be at fault. Let's not lose our common sense.

[GSMC]

Originally Posted by R/T FAN

So if I'm doing 60 in a 55 and someone in a pre black box car runs a stop sign and They die in the wreck, then I am liable because I got a box that says I was breaking the law.

Wonderful...........

Good question actually! As said, it doesn't trump other evidence..BUT...the information they could aquire from your "box" is spped, whether you applied the brakes, whether your seat belt was on..things like that. So if YOU got hurt also...they can gather that information from your property without any search warrant (currently) and they found out you weren't wearing your seat belt, the insurance company could dispute paying your medical bills...and the insurance companies are all for the black boxes...imagine that.

"It's for the children"...my *ss.....Sorry, but one of the things that really urks me bad is the continuing loss of our personal rights and privacy in our great country. **Steps off Soap box**

[Yahooligan]

EDRs aren't any more of a violation of privacy than red-light cameras. You are driving in PUBLIC streets, there is no expectation of privacy when it comes to your driving actions.

Nobody can just randomly stop you and connect to the EDR and read the data, that's not how the laws work nor is it how the EDRs work.

[Yellow Jacket 2012]

Originally Posted by huggytree

30 days ago people voted for Big Brother to be in control.....

the other 49% of us are screwed

Many who voted have no clue of the dire consequences that will follow. You reap what you sow. One day the masses will understand. Your words could not be more true.