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Should cars have black boxes?

S

Steve

Lifer
Somebody in that thread early on said something like "who knows whether they were protesting against such stupid driving" and it made me think a black box (like those in airplanes) could reveal a lot to investigators.

Thoughts?
 
OBD III sensors in many GM cars, among others, already store vehicle speed, attitude, braking/steering input data....warranty, aacident, and rental car purposes would be served by allowing the use of that data. I dont believe the legal perspective has yet been adressed with regards to widespread use and adoption of the technology.
 
I think they should have something. It shouldn't need to record any audio or video or things like that, but it should be recording everything about the vehicle at all times.

Design teams test their cars in all kinds of situations, but there's only so much they can test for. There's a lot that happens in the real world that they might not get to test in the lab. Having this kind of data available would definitely help.
 
Most vehicles already have a similar setup, even though the industry apparently has tried to keep that a secret. Personally... I have issues with my driving habits being monitored against my knowledge... but on the other hand, as a pilot I understand the importance of the system when it comes to airplanes. The FDR's have been invaluable in aviation safety advancement. Ultimately... I think cars should have black boxes but I also think it should be fully disclosed.
 
I don't want one in MY car. It's certainly not going to do me any good. You guys who want them can put them in your cars. Let the manufacturer or the government or whoever else note every little ldetail of your driving, but I'm fine not being monitored constantly, thanks.
 
i think the police cars here in the UK have somthing similar

so police can see whos at fault when police cars have accidents.

theres all sort of wizzkiddery people want implementing.

theres making people use a meter on the dash board that taxes your account everytime you go under certain gantrys on a motorway (ie like an automatic toll road tax for using that road) then theres stuff that uses GPS to figure out what road you are on, then it artificially limits your top speed to the speed limit on the road. it works rather well. then theres the black box idea, but its just finding someone who will pay for it to be fitted to every one of the millions of cars.
 
Originally posted by: sm8000
Originally posted by: mercanucaribe
They DO have black boxes.
Click to expand...

I'm meaning voice recorders.
Click to expand...

I don't think they need voice recorders. I'd say anything being said is somewhat irrelevent.

The most they could do, in the case of the RX8 accident is maybe tell investigators that the 3 passengers were begging their friend to slow down, or egging him on to go faster.

The only people that would benefit would be lawyers, because people would get sue happy.
 
Originally posted by: sm8000
Originally posted by: mercanucaribe
They DO have black boxes.
Click to expand...

I'm meaning voice recorders.
Click to expand...

OH.. so you're not asking about black boxes then, just voice recorders? Completely separate equipment. But anyway... as it is in aviation, we have voice recorders AND black boxes both, obviously. One reason I don't mind it so much is that the FAA prohibits using the contents of the CVR for enforcement actions. The voice recordings may only be used for accident reconstruction or something along those lines. If the same prohibition could be placed on automobile voice recorders, I would support it. They are to provide answers, not to provide prosecutory evidence.

 
Originally posted by: giantpinkbunnyhead
Originally posted by: sm8000
Originally posted by: mercanucaribe
They DO have black boxes.
Click to expand...

I'm meaning voice recorders.
Click to expand...

OH.. so you're not asking about black boxes then, just voice recorders? Completely separate equipment. But anyway... as it is in aviation, we have voice recorders AND black boxes both, obviously. One reason I don't mind it so much is that the FAA prohibits using the contents of the CVR for enforcement actions. The voice recordings may only be used for accident reconstruction or something along those lines. If the same prohibition could be placed on automobile voice recorders, I would support it. They are to provide answers, not to provide prosecutory evidence.
Click to expand...

If that was applied to vehical voice recorders, then I would support having them.
 
Originally posted by: sm8000
Originally posted by: mercanucaribe
They DO have black boxes.
Click to expand...

I'm meaning voice recorders.
Click to expand...

What would voice recorders do? There is no law that requires silence while driving. As for airliners, below 10,000 feet they have the "quiet cockpit" rule. So if it turns out the pilots were talking about flight attendants boobies instead of landing the airplane and they crash, they are in bigger trouble.
 
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