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Black Boxes in the US Cars

Due to a recent decision of US federal authorities, the national automakers will have to inform their buyers that their cars contain "black boxes," this way making it possible to record data before, during and after accidents. These requirements, issued by The Department of Transportation National Highway Traffic Safety Administration will take effect in the year of 2011.

According to the NHTSA, around 10 million cars in the US are equipped with event data recorders (EDRs) and 64 percent of new vehicles are equipped with the devices as part of their air bag control systems. These devices store information when a crash is powerful enough to activate an airbag. They are not required but most US automakers install them. Recorders create a timeline and log of events and circumstances surrounding a crash. Information they collect includes speed, acceleration, the use of brakes, information on seatbelt use and information about airbag operation.

Colorado, Maine, New Hampshire and Virginia enacted laws in 2006 restricting access to crash data and requiring consumer notification. California was the first state to endorse such a law and a total of 10 states have enacted laws governing black boxes since 2004, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Privacy advocates, however, have said that these devices could violate vehicle owners` privacy rights.