 | Richard Smith has been in the Auto Body Industry for 26 years. He is ASE Certified Master Collision Tech, an I-Car Platinum Tech, and an I-Car Instructor. He and His wife own and operate Sharp's Auto Body & Collision Inc. located at 202 North Elm St. in Pittsburg, Kansas. He is a father of 5 children, Ex Military E-6 Staff SGT. and is active in his home Church. The one thing he enjoys doing is educating the public about the safety and proper repair of automobiles, no matter if it is a vehicle that has been in a collision, a small dent, or a complete restoration. The shop is always equipped with a skilled professional to handle your auto needs. |
Automotive Service & Repair
2013-01-02 14:32:25
Will new cars have “black boxes”?
Q-Is it true that new vehicles will have the same black box recorders as are used in planes? It is interesting but seems a little excessive to me.
A-It is true that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration ruled that all new light-duty cars and trucks will require Event Data Recorders. The White House Office of Management Budget concluded its review of the ruling, which is the final step in finalization. However, it is unclear when it will finally take effect.
The Event Data Recorders, not to be confused with voice recorders, record the event data, such as car speed, braking, and other data to help engineers understand how vehicles perform in real world events and driving conditions.
While it may seem excessive, most people do not realize it is actually already a common practice. EDRs have been around for 20 years and around 90 percent of automakers already include the EDR in their models. Some of those automakers ahead of the requirement include General Motors, Ford, Toyota, and Mazda.
It is important to note that automakers do not access the information gathered by EDRs without consumer permission, although privacy concerns are certainly understandable. It is my guess that we will see many new rulings on how the government may access the information as well as new privacy laws regarding the issue.
