[Steverino]

Hello Big Brother...

http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_15132285

Congresswoman Speier calls for 'black boxes' in U.S. vehicles

Rep. Jackie Speier, D-Hillsborough, has introduced a bill that would require all new cars to be equipped with "black boxes" by 2012, a move that comes in response to Toyota's widespread problems with sudden acceleration in its vehicles.

All new cars sold in the United States would have electronic data recorders designed to withstand serious accidents, and information on the devices could be easily retrieved by federal transportation officials.

In announcing the legislation Thursday, Speier called the massive Toyota recall beginning last year "a frightening wake-up call" that necessitates greater federal oversight of automobile safety.

 

[Basic Human Unit]

Hello Big Brother...

My support or lack of support for this hinges on what exactly this 'black box' would record.

Edit: Nothing mentioned in the article sets off any alarms with me, but I can't help but wonder if gps would be used as a 'tagging' of this information. That would set off a BIG alarm with me.

 

[SilverSurfer]

My support or lack of support for this hinges on what exactly this 'black box' would record.

Edit: Nothing mentioned in the article sets off any alarms with me, but I can't help but wonder if gps would be used as a 'tagging' of this information. That would set off a BIG alarm with me.

I tend to agree with you, BUT it opens the door to all kinds of abuse by the nanny state.

Assuming it records speed and location could you get a speeding ticket after the fact?

 

[Pragmatist]

Event Data Recorder (as usually labeled when in cars):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Event_Data_Recorder

Some EDRs continuously record data, overwriting the previous few minutes until a crash stops them, and others are activated by crash-like events (such as sudden changes in velocity) and may continue to record until the accident is over, or until the recording time is expired. EDRs may record a wide range of data elements, potentially including whether the brakes were applied, the speed at the time of impact, the steering angle, and whether seat belt circuits were shown as "Buckled" or "Unbuckled" at the time of the crash.

 

[Basic Human Unit]

I tend to agree with you, BUT it opens the door to all kinds of abuse by the nanny state.

Assuming it records speed and location could you get a speeding ticket after the fact?

Assuming the data is accurate, I'm okay with that; especially when speeding might have played a role in the accident.

 

[SilverSurfer]

Assuming the data is accurate, I'm okay with that; especially when speeding might have played a role in the accident.

I'm not talking about when an accident occurs. I am talking about when you get your car inspected, like you do here in VA.

 

[bobusboy]

i'd be finding a work around for mine, im not cool with this.

 

[Crusis]

I'm OK with it as long as you are told about it. If not, then it's just more illegal monitoring. If you're told about it, you can always go out and buy a restored 1968 Lincoln Continental instead. Still have luxury, along with a simple and reliable engine.

My next 'new' car is probably going to be either a restored '60s truck or a restored '60s auto, depending on if it's for family or me.

 

[Basic Human Unit]

I'm not talking about when an accident occurs. I am talking about when you get your car inspected, like you do here in VA.

Well supposedly, these black boxes are only supposed to record a few minutes of data. But I suspect that would be easy to 'alter'.

 

[caltrop]

Electronics Arrrrgh!

Most NEW cars today have fly-by-wire throttles. I assume the 'Black Box' will only record the condition of the vehicle up to the CRASH; things like stuck throttles. Although I don't know how well that will work. I had a car once that was barely running when they hooked up the computer to it and it said nothing was wrong yet there it was sounding like it was only running on a couple of cylinders.

My 2004 Ford Ranger has an all electronic throttle. It stuck the first year I had it. That was thrilling, letting your foot off the gas and NOTHING! It was like cruise control but you can not stop!

A lot of this NEW SHINY STUFF is worthless. Look at hybrid cars that only get 38mpg; I had a 1988 Ford Escort and it got 40+mpg. Granted hybrid cars do better in the city but I do a lot of highway and hybrid's are useless. Of course THEY want us all happy in a city where THEY can keep an eye on us.

It's just the engineers trying to justify their existance with hi-tech gagetry. It's all about the MONEY!

:upsidedown:

 

[Rascals]

I have a simple cure for this. Dont buy new. Most of my friends got new cars from there parents while in high school. I had to get my own. Man did I learn alot from that. But what it did teach me was how to fix everything there is on a car/truck. Now I wont drive anything that computers in it. (not counting my gps) which I take out everyday. I rebuild and drive musclecars and pre 77 Broncos. No computers lots of power and reliable as can be.

 

[crankyfarmer]

Seems like we did just fine without black boxes for the last century. I don't see a pressing need at this point. I think the congresswoman needs to take a vicadin and go back to reading her super market tabloids.

 

[crankyfarmer]

This just reminds me too much of the concerned women of the 20's that gave us prohibition. Lord protect us from the do-gooders.

 

[Amra910]

Cars already have them, people just don't know it. They have been in cars for as long as cars have had airbags. They have been used several times to implicate the drivers that were in a crash.

 

[rokitman]

They may as well put 666 in the serial number, cause it wont belong before they brand it on our foreheads!