Posted on 08/12/2013 6:34:34 PM PDT by jazusamo
Video at source.
A proposed federal rule that would require black boxes or event data recorders (EDRs) in every U.S. automobile may mean “Big Brother” could be in your passenger seat for every drive.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration rule requires all light passenger vehicles be equipped with an EDR by Sep.1, 2014. Ninety-six percent of new cars already have them - measuring such inputs as speed, lateral acceleration, pedal effort, seat belt use, wheel spin, steering wheel turn and direction.
Black box data retrieved from U.S. car accidents in a single day would provide more information than a year's worth of crash testing, says Tom Kowalick, who heads the design team that is standardizing the devices for automakers worldwide.
But he also said he fears that for all their potential good, the EDRs present a massive privacy dilemma, and an opportunity for fraudsters.
"They can take that odometer and roll that odometer back to zero,” he said. “They can change the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), which is in the computer. And once they do that, then it's okay for them to very simply steal the motor vehicle and move it away."
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
After the Corvairs got rid of the swing axles (like a VW), all was swell.
Maybe disable it, fry its little brain?
I miss the Corvairs. An ole’ boy in Tennessee had over 20 of them.
LOL! I love that, most appropriate:)
Just helped my buddy put a new clutch in one.
Now they have modern seal materials for the engine seals you can put in (o-rings, etc) that hold up to heat well and no more leaks!
I don't think so, but since it controls most of the functions like the engine and transmission, the car won't run either, which could limit its usefulness.
I still see “collections” as I drive around America.
What makes you believe your new car doesn’t have this?
Most have had it for 10 yrs or more.
The way this will get implemented is via insurance companies.
They are going to make it prohibitively expensive (or impossible) to insure a vehicle for liability without it.
Perhaps, NSA will find a way to wirelessly query the black box.
I put in about 27,000 miles a year. America is my land.
How long before they use this computer to track miles driven and then levy a tax per mile?
Therein lies the problem.
No government agency or insurance company should have access to these devises for any reason. Actually no one should have access but a mechanic to repair a problem but we know that will not be the case.
May need to step up my efforts to find another 1969 delta 88. Picky though, gotta have the 455...
My 69 Porsche has 2 black boxes...1 in each front fender well...
OH! wait they’re just two 6 volt batteries placed there for equal weight distribution...*W*
Corvair from the 1960s like my parents had.”
We had one - engine in the rear with a supercharger, 5 speed. Would really get up and go. Only little car I ever had and loved it. Chocolate brown with cordova tan leather upholstery. Would buy another one just like it.
In other news new car sales go down 99%...
Interesting how no “black box” could be found in Michael Hastings’ vehicle...
I know that the On-Star feature involves the ability for some computerized functions to be controlled remotely. If a vehicle doesn’t have On-Star does that mean that this capability doesn’t exist?
Are they talking about these “black boxes” having GPS/tracking and the ability for the vehicle to be controlled remotely?
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