Disturbing information about new cars

[Ben]

http://www.cnn.com/video/partners/click...w/2006/11/26/kaye.car.black.boxes.wsvn

Did you know practically every new car has a black box that records about 10 seconds of data before and during an accident? Did you know that prosecutors are now using that info to convict people involved in accidents? Scary big-brother stuff here buddy. And no one was told about these things until people are being put behind bars.

 

[mercanucaribe]

Not sure what the problem is. Why don't you want them to know what you did during the last 10 seconds before the accident? Trying to scam the insurance company? Right to privacy doesn't apply if you just killed some mother of three. Do you oppose cops obtaining search warrants too?

 

[SmoochyTX]

This is new? I thought this had been going on for a few years now.

 

[Stunt]

I'm a huge supporter of privacy rights, but this is for investigative purposes only.

Car accidents are the number one form of death; accountability must be there.

 

[SmoochyTX]

More than half of 2004 models have EDRs. 64% of 2005 models have them.

Read more about EDRs at the NHTSA site. Sorry it's a PDF.

http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/staticfiles/DO...sociated%20Files/EDR_QAs_11Aug2006.pdf

ETA - I have a 2004 Pontiac Grand Am. It has an EDR (Event Data Recorder).

 

[Atheus]

2 problems I can see. 1 - you might have made some small error, but the crash was still the other driver's fault. Would you forfeit your rights because you were committing a crime at the time of the accident? 2 - You could just hack the black box to always report that you are innocent of everything.

 

[SmoochyTX]

Originally posted by: Atheus
2 problems I can see. 1 - you might have made some small error, but the crash was still the other driver's fault. Would you forfeit your rights because you were committing a crime at the time of the accident? 2 - You could just hack the black box to always report that you are innocent of everything.

What the OP is referring to in his post is an EDR - not a black box. They are two different things. See the PDF I linked to in my earlier post.

 

[Insane3D]

Is there a list of cars that have them...so I can make sure not to buy one?

 

[SmoochyTX]

Originally posted by: Insane3D
Is there a list of cars that have them...so I can make sure not to buy one?

If it's General Motors and it's a 2003 or newer, it will have an EDR. Toyota has had them for "quite some time".

You should check the owner's manual of the car before you buy it to see if it has an EDR.

From here

ETA - Have found several articles mentioning that General Motors has been using EDRs since the late 90s in all of their vehicles. Ford has had them in all of their vehicles (cars & trucks) since the 2002 model year.

 

[Insane3D]

I've been looking into a Mazda 6...is there any way to find out what models have it and don't other than the owner's manual?

 

[Greenman]

Well, it proved the guy was doing at least three times the speed limit, and he killed two people because of that. Are we to think it's a bad thing because of that?

 

[Insane3D]

Originally posted by: Greenman
Well, it proved the guy was doing at least three times the speed limit, and he killed two people because of that. Are we to think it's a bad thing because of that?

Proved it eh? I guess those questions about are they ever tested or calibrated just flew right over your head right?

 

[SmoochyTX]

Originally posted by: Insane3D
I've been looking into a Mazda 6...is there any way to find out what models have it and don't other than the owner's manual?

Here is a partial list but note that it does not contain all makes/models containing an EDR. Hondas have them (from what I've found on Google) but they're not on that list.

You can't find the owner's manual for the Mazda you're wanting to buy online? What year Mazda?

 

[Insane3D]

I was looking at a 2006 or 2007, but it looks like I'd be likely to get one. I'd keep my '92 GT forever if I could find body parts for it... :

 

[SmoochyTX]

Originally posted by: Insane3D
I was looking at a 2006 or 2007, but it looks like I'd be likely to get one. I'd keep my '92 GT forever if I could find body parts for it... :

Just found this link. 2006 Mazda M6s have EDRs. So of course 2007 Mazda M6s will and who knows when Mazda started putting in their EDRs.

ETA - I could have sworn they said their M6 was a 2006 but reading it again it doesn't mention the year. The thread was created in early 2006 so I don't know what year they're referring to but if theirs has an EDR then the 2006 definitely would.

 

[FlashG]

This is just like everything else the government has been doing for the people. Of course everyone knows that they would never misuse this power would they.

 

[Insane3D]

Thanks for finding that. That really sucks. I was seriously looking into buying one...not now. :

It sounds like they can't be disabled without taking out the airbags...

:thumbsdown:

 

[mercanucaribe]

Originally posted by: Insane3D

Originally posted by: Greenman
Well, it proved the guy was doing at least three times the speed limit, and he killed two people because of that. Are we to think it's a bad thing because of that?

Proved it eh? I guess those questions about are they ever tested or calibrated just flew right over your head right?

Wouldn't it record the same speed that the speedometer shows? The owner of the car would notice if the speedo showed 100mph when it was going 50.

 

[fbrdphreak]

I'd bet my car doesn't have one - being Australian and all

 

[Insane3D]

Originally posted by: mercanucaribe

Originally posted by: Insane3D

Originally posted by: Greenman
Well, it proved the guy was doing at least three times the speed limit, and he killed two people because of that. Are we to think it's a bad thing because of that?

Proved it eh? I guess those questions about are they ever tested or calibrated just flew right over your head right?

Wouldn't it record the same speed that the speedometer shows? The owner of the car would notice if the speedo showed 100mph when it was going 50.

I don't know here it records the speed from...

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: mercanucaribe

Originally posted by: Insane3D

Originally posted by: Greenman
Well, it proved the guy was doing at least three times the speed limit, and he killed two people because of that. Are we to think it's a bad thing because of that?

Proved it eh? I guess those questions about are they ever tested or calibrated just flew right over your head right?

Wouldn't it record the same speed that the speedometer shows? The owner of the car would notice if the speedo showed 100mph when it was going 50.

You'd think so, right? But raising irrelevant questions is a good way to raise doubt. I know I personally test and calibrate the processor in my computer once a month to make sure the numbers add up in my spreadsheets.

 

[Molondo]

Aren't they wanting to put RFIDs in cars ?

 

[Insane3D]

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: mercanucaribe

Originally posted by: Insane3D

Originally posted by: Greenman
Well, it proved the guy was doing at least three times the speed limit, and he killed two people because of that. Are we to think it's a bad thing because of that?

Proved it eh? I guess those questions about are they ever tested or calibrated just flew right over your head right?

Wouldn't it record the same speed that the speedometer shows? The owner of the car would notice if the speedo showed 100mph when it was going 50.

You'd think so, right? But raising irrelevant questions is a good way to raise doubt. I know I personally test and calibrate the processor in my computer once a month to make sure the numbers add up in my spreadsheets.

Oh, gotcha. It's an irrelevant question to ask if the data is reliable coming off of them since said data can be used against you in court.

Sorry, I should learn to oversimplify and make apples to oranges comparisons...my bad.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: Insane3D

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: mercanucaribe

Originally posted by: Insane3D

Originally posted by: Greenman
Well, it proved the guy was doing at least three times the speed limit, and he killed two people because of that. Are we to think it's a bad thing because of that?

Proved it eh? I guess those questions about are they ever tested or calibrated just flew right over your head right?

Wouldn't it record the same speed that the speedometer shows? The owner of the car would notice if the speedo showed 100mph when it was going 50.

You'd think so, right? But raising irrelevant questions is a good way to raise doubt. I know I personally test and calibrate the processor in my computer once a month to make sure the numbers add up in my spreadsheets.

Oh, gotcha. It's an irrelevant question to ask if the data is reliable coming off of them since said data can be used against you in court.

Sorry, I should learn to oversimplify and make apples to oranges comparisons...my bad.

Whether or not it has been calibrated is an irrelevant question, and it really isn't an apples to orange comparison if you think about it. The Event Data Recorder just records data that comes to it from other sources, what calibration would be necessary to do that? Why would the EDR record anything OTHER than what the speedometer says? Would it make sense for manufacturers to install a SECOND method of determining the speed of the car?

 

[yobarman]

It appears the Nissan Maxima is EDR free. Going to be my next purchase.

If it turns out it does have one, it would probably bother me as I tend to go above the speed limit quite a bit