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'Black Box' Regulations to Take Effect Next Month

NHTSA sets new standards for the devices, continues to push for requiring them in all vehicles.

By Claire_Martin Aug 20, 2012 2:15PM
The so-called "black box," an instrument used to collect crash information, isn't yet standard-issue for cars the way it is in the aviation industry, but the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is instituting a new set of rules next month for those devices that are already in place.

Black boxes now collect data in 92 percent of all 2010 General Motors' vehicles that weigh up to 8,481 pounds, according to a report by The New York Times. In September, NHTSA will begin standardizing the type of information those devices measure, and how they measure it:
"The [new] rules state that the data must be retrievable and specify how precisely the sensors must measure parameters like the impact jolt in the sideways or forward-and-back direction; the engine speed and throttle position; the steering input; and the speed of airbag deployment," Matthew L. Wald writes in The Times.

As we reported earlier this year, Congress voted on a bill to require black boxes in all new vehicles. The bill was passed by the Senate, but got the kibosh in the House, reportedly because Republicans viewed the device as an invasion of privacy.

Despite the fact that black-box data are owned by the person who owns the vehicle, they are subject to subpoena in the case of a lawsuit. The data can be downloaded through a data jack in the device's circuit board, which has a memory chip. 

Meanwhile, NHTSA continues to push for making the boxes mandatory. “The agency has made it a priority to work toward a proposed standard that would mandate these devices on all passenger vehicles on the nation’s roadways,” spokeswoman Lynda Tran said.

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3Comments
anne253
Aug 20, 2012 5:15PM
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Another reason not to buy from Government Motors.
Andel11
Aug 24, 2012 8:31AM
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So for now, if you know what you're doing, you can just take it off and get a new paper weight. Why am I not surprise that a progressive controlled Senate would want to mandate that they get to know every movement or twitch I make in my own car? The last thing I need is Hilary Clinton telling me I shouldn't have turned right...
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