Automobile Black Boxes

Automobile Event Data Recorders (EDRs)—also known as automobile black boxes—have been around for quite some time. While initially used to provide sensory data for air bag deployment, EDRs are now capable of capturing a wide variety of information about how a car is driven, including information about speed, braking, acceleration, steering and seatbelt use. Today, this information is used to make vehicles safer than ever by providing data for the operation of things like stability sensors, antilock brakes and traction controls; but it has some people concerned.

Privacy Rights
Many people are concerned about privacy rights being violated by EDRs. While the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) holds that the information contained in an EDR belongs to an owner of the vehicle, rights to that information are not federally regulated and are a matter of state law. Most states that have laws about EDRs maintain that vehicle owners or leasees maintain the right to the information contained in their EDR, but the information may be obtained for third parties through court order.

Manufacturer Warranties
For others, the idea of their vehicle being monitored has them worried that the data could be used by manufacturers to invalidate warranties. This is highly unlikely since EDRs are not capable of recording a continuous stream of data like the more sophisticated black boxes found in airplanes. But there are systems, like VSDRs (Vehicle Status Data Recorders) that are capable of recording up to a week’s worth of data and could be used for this purpose. Manufacturers who utilize VSDRs maintain that they are an integral feature to keep high-performing vehicles operating at peak levels.

Length of Recorded Data
Unlike VSDRs and black boxes, EDRs are designed to capture mere seconds’ worth of information. You see, an EDR does not start recording data until it senses that a crash is imminent. In such circumstances, the EDR begins recording information about driver behavior and vehicle response within a few seconds before a crash and continues recording data for a few seconds during and after the crash. All in all, EDRs record about 45 seconds worth of information.

Type of Recorded Data
The information recorded by EDRs is strictly confined to vehicle functioning and operator behavior. EDRs cannot record video or audio, determine if you ran a red light or stop sign, or tell if you’ve been drinking. Additionally, EDRs do not record personal identifier information that indicates who may have been driving a vehicle during a crash.

EDRs are capable of monitoring and recording over 40 data points of information. What type of information your EDR records is largely determined by the year, make and model of your vehicle.

Automobile Black Boxes and the Law
While there are many safety benefits that can be attributed to EDRs, it is important to be aware the information recorded by EDRs has been used in court to determine fault for serious accidents in both criminal and civil proceedings. If you have been involved in a serious car accident, it is imperative that you hire an experienced car accident attorney who has a thorough understanding of EDRs and how to interpret recorded data.

EDR Regulations
EDRs are not required to be installed in vehicles driven in the United States, but the NHTSA will begin regulating minimum standards of information gathering and storage for voluntarily installed EDRs starting with cars manufactured for model year 2012.