New Federal rules to require black boxes to record driver activity in every car

[p.dath]

This is in the US.

http://www.popsci.com/cars/article/2...river-activity

Federal officials are poised to announce next month that all cars must contain a black box, similar to that installed on airplanes, to give authorities a glimpse of your activities in the event of a car wreck. The devices could help pin down what happened in the moments before a crash, helping authorities determine who is at fault for what, and eliminating uncertainty from human witnesses.

[oneofsix]

This is in the US.

http://www.popsci.com/cars/article/2...river-activity

mixed reaction. For what it is being sold as and providing an independent authority accesses the data on the surface it sounds fine. But this thing will also non-accident related data so whats stopping someone sometime in the future deciding they will download the data at every warrant check and ping you for any perceived infringements or the fact that you took part in the ACC protest ride. Or could your partner get hold of the data and find out where you really went on that late night ride?

[cbfb]

This is in the US.

http://www.popsci.com/cars/article/2...river-activity

At first sight not a bad idea but it can really only monitor the driver's input at the controls, it can't monitor the factors distracting the driver such as changing a CD or eating lollies or even sunstrike.

The focus needs to be on tougher driving test standards in this country, preventing accidents in the first place.

[Hitcher]

Good grief. This is America we're talking about? Land of the free and the home of the brave. A country with no WOF inspection system. How on earth is it proposed that these boxes, if fitted, will actually remain connected to anything?

[Ocean1]

The time to do something about unreasonably intrusive law isn't when it becomes difficult to avoid. It's when the bastards write it. The price of freedom, and all that crap, y'know?

[tigertim20]

Good grief. This is America we're talking about? Land of the free and the home of the brave. A country with no WOF inspection system. How on earth is it proposed that these boxes, if fitted, will actually remain connected to anything?

You have just said, in a manner far more politely than I could have, exactly what i was going to say.

And fuck off if anyone thinks im puttin one on my bike!

[reofix]

The box says the car was at 163km/hr and the average reaction time was 180% of average .... lock the fucker up!!... this is the sooner the better technology

[pete376403]

They're part way there already. Car computers have plenty of surplus processing capacity, are connected to most of the inputs already eg throttle, brakes, transmission, speed sensor (for cruise control), stability controls sense vehicle angle and lean, wheel sensors for ABS detect wheel spin or lockup. Sensors under the seats detect occupancy (for seat belts), impact sensors for airbags.
All it needs is somthing to see where the steering is pointed, and some more RAM to store the last few minutes worth of input.
Of course it can't be disconnected cos then the car becomes unusable.

Ad these'r already been a case in NZ where info from the car computer was used to prove the speed of a car just before impact.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crim...er-after-crash

[jazfender]

No thanks.

[SPman]

The time to do something about unreasonably intrusive law isn't when it becomes difficult to avoid. It's when the bastards write it. The price of freedom, and all that crap, y'know?

What he sez!

[imdying]

All it needs is somthing to see where the steering is pointed, and some more RAM to store the last few minutes worth of input.

Both of which they've had for a while.

[oneofsix]

They're part way there already. Car computers have plenty of surplus processing capacity, are connected to most of the inputs already eg throttle, brakes, transmission, speed sensor (for cruise control), stability controls sense vehicle angle and lean, wheel sensors for ABS detect wheel spin or lockup. Sensors under the seats detect occupancy (for seat belts), impact sensors for airbags.
All it needs is somthing to see where the steering is pointed, and some more RAM to store the last few minutes worth of input.
Of course it can't be disconnected cos then the car becomes unusable.

Ad these'r already been a case in NZ where info from the car computer was used to prove the speed of a car just before impact.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crim...er-after-crash

Now if it had been a Toyota would it have been a reasonable defense to point out that their electronics are questionable and there the data from the cars computable can not be considered reliable.

BTW the black box didn't set a precedent. It was presented as evidence but wasn't the evidence that convicted him.

Judge Gaskell said there was enough evidence to convict Hohaia without the data, as it was clear he had crossed the centre line at a speed well over the maximum safe speed of 58kmh to 68kmh stated by crash investigators. He rejected Hohaia's claim that he was travelling at 50kmh to 60kmh around the corner and that he did not cross the centre line

[SMOKEU]

I don't think these new "black boxes" are going to be all that easy to tamper with anyway, unless you replace the ECU with a Link or something.

[Scuba_Steve]

These "black boxes" have been coming out in quite a few cars in the past decade, they just weren’t legally required before but if you have a car from the 21st century chances are you have some sort of "black box" tech

[oneofsix]

These "black boxes" have been coming out in quite a few cars in the past decade, they just weren’t legally required before but if you have a car from the 21st century chances are you have some sort of "black box" tech

you might have some sort of computer tech but not black box tech. Black box implies incorruptible like in aviation where as car computers are easily edited and have even been hacked remotely.
What's the bet they get it wrong on the first try anyhow.