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Car Owners to be Notified of Blackboxes in Vehicle
smooth wombat writes "As a follow-up to this long ago posting, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has passed a resolution requiring car manufacturers to inform buyers if their cars are equipped with Event Data Recorders (EDRs). The new regulation also standardizes what information is to be collected. Car manufacturers must comply with the new regulation beginning in the 2011 model year."
Thank you ralph nader.
What's all the fuss about? This technology is NOT new! My 1992 Saturn SL2 computer brain box records the last 10 seconds of the car's acceleration, speed, throttle position, engine RPM's, and whether or not the brake is being pressed. This came to me directly from the Saturn dealer - and that's what they told me - approximately 40 different parameters are measured simultaneously every 1/100 of a second. In the event of an accident, the previous 10 seconds worth of THAT MUCH data is enough exonerate or convict someone of vehicular homicide. Besides, after living in Ohio, Michigan, and now in Connecticut, and observing that cameras are placed in most city and suburban intersections, this vehicular data will only substantiate the events that are recorded on surveillance cameras. I also want to point out that the data I've described was present in a vehicle 15 years old (it was purchased in September 1991, just after the Saturn model year change-over). Vehicles newer than this, like my 1999 Saab 93 very likely record more data, including if/when the airbags are deployed, and since the Saab that year had the option for OnStar, I would bet that a metric ass-load of data is recorded in that car's computer relative to the 1992 Saturn. This data collected in black boxes is only there to help people, not harm them or infringe on their rights. If you're concerned, then don't drive. You're either a criminal seeking to avoid detection and incarceration, or you're paranoid that the government is trying to keep track of your insignificant life.
I have nothing to hide. I have no problem with any being monitored whatsoever because I am an honest law-abiding citizen. I'm glad somebody here agrees with me.
Thanks for standing up for the law and order crowd, buddy. I hate these tree hugging hippies here too.