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Event Data Recorders (EDR) have been placed in many vehicles. It records data from various points in a "blackbox" style fashion. It helps with diagnostics and also when something fails. General Motors vehicles have been fitted with EDRs, recording 30 points of data, since the 1990s. Now, most new vehicles have something similar. Later this year the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration will propose a law to require every motor vehicle to have a blackbox EDR, that will be accessible by authorities and the laws that be. In some ways it will help people in court argue their case, but expose others. It may help insurance companies raise rates. General prying into one's automotive life, in other words.
Some may say this is government overreaching of authority. I disagree. Recently, I had thought that cars should have a blackbox. Every moment should be logged in the case of a disaster. I would like the blackbox to go even further. I would like it to record other vehicles that are in proximity at any point. Hit and runs, accidental damage when one is not around, and the people at fault getting away will be a thing of the past. For the time being, local data logging is fine.
Is this going too far? Should be all just drive classic cars from now on?
Eavesdropper
While I am sure some will think this device is an invasion of privacy, I can see how it could really cut down the time your vehicle spends in the shop. I think all of us can appreciate how frustrating intermitant problems are to debug. Having these devices can help identify when the problem occurs, how often and the onboard diagnostics may even be able to locate the problem.
As with every device of this sort, they can be used for other purposes, but if you are not doing anything wrong, then you should have nothing to fear. Plus it may help your case if your car can verify your alibi. ![]()
Thanks,
DAB
I was in an auto accident recently, a light fender bender. (Only my car was damaged)
The black box would show I was only going 5 mph at the time of the accident, not the 45 mph the other person claimed.
I welcome the addition.
E
Having a more accurate system as this may give more reliable data.
Interesting question by the way.
IDelgado
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