Saturday, September 09, 2006

New rule on Electronic Data Recorders (EDR)

According to NHTSA, about 64 percent of model year 2005 cars were equipped with an Electronic Data Recorder (EDR), a device similar to "black boxes" used in commercial airliners that record data about what a car is doing in the moments just before and after a crash. I was not aware that these even existed but considering the amount of computer technology today in vehicles this is not surprising. In fact, I think it makes sense.

Apparently, the government thinks this information should be known by all consumers and by 2011 car companies will be required to include information about the EDR in the owner manuals. In addition to this, EDRs will collect a uniform set of data which can help investigators recreate crashes and determine causes.

An EDR does not record the voices of occupants but they do record things like speed, steering wheel movement, how hard the brakes are being pressed and the actual movement of the car itself. I think this is great and I think that EDRs should be designed for and used for legal accountability in accidents. But some will disagree.

What say you?

Sources:
CNN Reference Article
More info about EDRs

Comments on "New rule on Electronic Data Recorders (EDR)"

 

Anonymous Anonymous said ... (10:56) : 

Many of your sport or luxury vehicles included these "black boxes" to help determine warranty limitations. Most are set up to only track RPM, shifting points and speed. This way if you were abusing the car they would having backing for not covering blown engines and transmissions under warranty. That are also used for diagnosis purposes as well. -Jeff

 

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