If your car was manufactured in this century, chances are it contains an event data recorder from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that has been collecting car accident information since 2001.
Although some drivers are concerned with having their data accessed, black box technology can be an excellent way to prevent accidents from happening again in the future and assist law enforcement officials with tracking drivers who cause traffic issues.
What is a Black Box?
Black boxes refers to flight data recorders and cockpit voice recorders used for aircraft accident investigations and can provide crucial clues into what caused an aircraft collision.
Computer programming terminology defines “black box” programs as those created with code that obscures their inner structure, making it hard for program users to verify whether the output of a program is correct despite white box testing techniques being available.
Black boxes in computing are used for many different applications, from machine learning applications to stock trading platforms. These systems rely on complex algorithms that require restraints in order to become more transparent – much like white box models do.
Does My Car Have a Black Box?
Like airplane black boxes, car black boxes are data recording devices installed in most new vehicles. Also referred to as event data recorders or EDRs, car black boxes have been in use since 1994, according to USA Today.
Your car’s black box, known as an airbag control module or ACM, is an automated vehicle monitoring device used by auto manufacturers to gather information during accidents and assess whether they were preventable. It stores data such as airbag deployment, brake application and seatbelt use for 20 seconds prior, during, and post accident.
As one can imagine, this kind of information can be extremely beneficial to auto companies and investigators alike, helping prove fault in an accident and determine who should pay damages.
As with any kind of evidence, data can quickly disappear unless it is protected immediately. When this occurs, it is vital that you contact an attorney as quickly as possible for legal representation.
How Do I Know if My Car Has a Black Box?
If you’re uncertain whether or not your vehicle has an electronic digital recorder (EDR), it would be wise to consult the owner’s manual. Since 1994, most new cars sold in the US come equipped with such an EDR.
These devices are intended to monitor vehicle movements prior to and immediately following an accident, typically for 20 seconds before regularly wiping the data off the recorder.
To interpret black box data properly, a special data retrieval kit – consisting of software, hardware and a cable which plugs into a car’s onboard diagnostic port – is needed. Furthermore, training is necessary in order to interpret its results correctly.
Information gleaned from a black box can be extremely beneficial in personal injury claims. It can provide evidence that shows who was at fault, while helping prevent similar accidents in the future.
As it’s essential that no one – including you or your insurer – accesses or retrieves black box information without your permission or court order, it is wise to contact an attorney quickly in order to ensure it can be preserved as evidence in your case.
What Are the Benefits of Having a Black Box?
Black boxes provide insurers with a useful way to monitor your driving and more accurately calculate insurance premiums. Black boxes work by gathering data about how you drive – things such as brake usage, speed and cornering patterns – then sending it back to their insurer.
Data collected is then combined into a driving score that will generate a tailored quote for you. Drivers who engage in responsible, low risk driving are more likely to experience lower premiums.
Young drivers looking for affordable insurance policies are encouraged to avail themselves of this alternative approach to avoid exorbitant premiums that can arise as a result of accidents or criminal convictions.
However, privacy issues arise; for instance if a black box was installed in your car and monitored by law enforcement officials for speeding tickets issued.
