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Black Box in Speeder's Car Helped Conviction

sessamoid writes "This article in Newhouse News tells the story of a man who was recently convicted of two counts of manslaughter and vehicular homicide each, partially on evidence obtained from the Electronic Data Recorder (EDR) in the car. EDR's are found in all cars with airbags to measure the performance and effectiveness of the airbags and the conditions in which they are used. In this case, the EDR revealed that the driver was not travelling at 60 mph, as he claimed, but actually peaked at 114 mph (in a residential neighborhood) just seconds before the collision. Could this be the forerunner of many such cases in the future, where our cars tell the unadulterated facts, rather than subjective personal accounts?"

14 of 864 comments (clear)

  1. Zappers by Victa · · Score: 5, Funny

    Does this mean that I have to microwave my car now???

  2. Re:You're asking the wrong crowd by OwnerOfWhinyCat · · Score: 4, Funny

    Well, in that case you'd be violating the DMCA or a terrorist, whichever is more expensive in your state.

  3. Blackbox? by vivek7006 · · Score: 1, Funny

    So his car was running linux... with Blackbox WM? But I use Blackbox on my linux box, and it never crashes. I smell something fishy here

  4. Re:You're asking the wrong crowd by pAnkRat · · Score: 5, Funny

    > Well, in that case you'd be violating the DMCA
    > or a terrorist, whichever is more expensive
    > in your state.

    How can violating a terrorist be expensive?

    Oh, wait you mean, ...you'd be violating the DMCA or you'd be a terrorist,...

    Ok, nothing to see here, just move on.

    --
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  5. Re:You're asking the wrong crowd by Stephen+Samuel · · Score: 4, Funny
    Given what Bin Laden does to complete strangers, I'd hate to see what he does to someone who violated him.

    In that vein, though, did you ever watch "Pulp Fiction"?

    --
    Free Software: Like love, it grows best when given away.
  6. lets not jump to conclusions by lateralus_1024 · · Score: 1, Funny

    I mean maybe the dude had a Ford Explorer with Bridgestone tires....and maybe the guy he hit was wearing a neoteen linux hippie, sporting a black Linkin Park t-shirt(don't they all?).

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  7. Re:You're asking the wrong crowd by Oscar_Wilde · · Score: 5, Funny

    Yeah, for about 3 weeks before an EDR modchip hits the market that reports whatever you want it to report.

    I can see it now: "OK, we'll just download the black box data and..... Gentlemen this car was only ever used once a week to drive to church. Oh, and all you autos are belong to us."

    Will the Modchip also let me run linux?

    Imagine a Beowulf cluster of Black Boxen!

    Did I miss anything?... I think there is a joke with car crashes and Kernel panics but its just not leaping out at me.

  8. Re:You're asking the wrong crowd by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Does the Weekly World News count?

    Today I saw the headline "Osama and Saddam in Love!" with the two making happy faces at each other while lying on a bed in a suggestive way.

    This was one of the few times the tabloids made me laugh out loud.

  9. +5 Interesting or +5 conspiry theory by Martin+Spamer · · Score: 4, Funny

    This AC should be +5 Funny not +5 Interesting, moderators engage brains before moderating, tacking chips in fertiliser and gasoline!!!

    p.s. AC you better watch out for those my^H^Hthose stealth tracking packets that are now winging there way to your PC now and will be tracked all the way by my^H^H those Sentinals^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H UN Stealth choppers.

    Agent^H^H^H^H^H Fred Smith.

  10. Re:You're asking the wrong crowd by LittleGuy · · Score: 2, Funny

    Why don't we just have governers in cars that limit them to the speed limits of the area? that way nobody can go faster than the speed limit.

    Or, in lieu thereof, ex-governors, like Jesse Ventura:

    "Hey! The sign sign says 'Speed Limit 25!' You ain't got time to bleed!"

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  11. Re:You're asking the wrong crowd by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    I think the air bags should turn off at 99 mph.
    That would solve the privacy issue.

  12. Preventive Programming by SEWilco · · Score: 4, Funny

    If( speed > 100 )
    { airbag(deploy); } /* We're about to crash anyway */

  13. Re:You're asking the wrong crowd by wo1verin3 · · Score: 2, Funny

    Don't be silly, Saddam is in love with Satan.

    Source: Historical Footage

  14. Re:You're asking the wrong crowd by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    98 or 114 in a residential area? The heck with violating this loser's privacy; the cops should just violate him privately!