what the black box "can" and "cannot" do...

[wolfdogs]

I know many of you know what Im about to type...but im sure some dont...and there has been alot of concern about "uncle is watching you"... we, gsa fleet...have DOD and Fed Agencies now inquiring about the black boxes...which have built in event data recorders (EDR's)...

to sum it up, here's what they can and cannot do:

EDR's can: record the last 5 to 30 seconds of the vehicles operating data collected prior to a collision. It can record the vehicles speed, braking activity, seat belt usage, occupant location, sterring movements, throttle position and deceleration rate.

EDR's cannot: record voice or sounds from the cabin. they do not record more than 30 seconds of data either. They are not "intended" (this word worries me)or designed (thats better) to transmit vehicle operating data via wireless devices. (Onstar is one exception)

Also..the EDR is a n integral part of the airbag system and cannot be removed or disabledw without negatively affecting airbag operation.

In reality...law enforcement can seize edr devices and the data without a warrant, if done so as part of a collsion investigation... and insurance companies can access the data without notice because a standard provsion of most auto polices is that the insured is obligated to fully cooperate in all claims investigations.

There have been several cases where law enforcement and insurance companies have used edr data to build cases against the vehicle owner... (lets hope the driver and owner are one in the same.....)

in some cases...manslaughter charges have been upgreaded to murder based on the edr speed data.... and negligence claims have been filed to show that drivers didnt apply their brakes hard or fast enough....

rummor is......wireless transmitters are comming.......for "safety monitoring" purposes........

feel better........

[Steel2686]

Thanks for the heads up info.

I wouldn't be surprised if they are eventually required in all new cars.

[Jeff_in_Atl]

Do you know what vehicles this comes in from the factory?

BTW GM did a pilot program on black boxes in 2000-2001. They put them in the 1500 series trucks. In the north the last words heard were generally something like oh SH!T. In the south they generally heard "hey bubba, watch this".

[wolfdogs]

Do you know what vehicles this comes in from the factory?

BTW GM did a pilot program on black boxes in 2000-2001. They put them in the 1500 series trucks. In the north the last words heard were generally something like oh SH!T. In the south they generally heard "hey bubba, watch this".

all the big three models, man.