Posted on 01/31/2003 8:58:01 PM PST by YOMO
There's a new device on most automobiles these days that you don't see listed in the owner's manual. If it works properly, it can save your life. But to accomplish that task, the small computer chip needs to know information about your car and how you drive it. Police and insurance companies are now able to get their hands on that information.
Crash investigator Sergeant Dave Leitman uses the new technology to pinpoint a dead driver's actions. "They're running just over the speed limit -- 72 miles per hour. Suddenly, we have a change. The RPM drops down, and two seconds out, we're on the brake," Leitman says. This is the so-called black box -- which is actually silver -- found on many vehicles made since 1996. With his laptop computer and special software, Leitman can tap into exactly what happened in the seconds before the accident. "Am I confident the data here is correct? Yes, because it's being verified by what I'm seeing here. I'm matching with the evidence I have on my road," Leitman says. Police are currently only collecting the information in serious car crashes. But what if that information was used against you in court? Or used by your insurance company to deny a claim? "Most people are totally unaware this technology even exists, or that their car has the box," says Tim Finley, a private crash investigator. Finley also has the technology to access your car's data recorder, but for a different reason. "I'm hired mainly by insurance companies or law firms wanting to gather information about an accident after it's happened," he says. Finley uses your car's black box as a truth detector for insurance companies. "If someone claims an accelerator stuck on a car, they want to know is there a problem with the accelerator on that car, or perhaps was it an operator error?" he says. But what happens if you don't want to share? At the scene of an accident, the black box is considered evidence. But beyond that, the question of privacy hasn't been answered yet in court. Attorneys like Richard Sindel see both sides. "There may be one day I'm saying this technology is terrible, and another day I may be saying this is the greatest thing since sliced bread," he says. Until that is decided, investigators will welcome the flood of new data. "It's one more piece of snow that adds to the ball to get all the answers to the questions," Leitman says. However, it may send a chill down the spine of some drivers. If you're in an accident, you do have rights. At the scene, police may consider the information to be evidence. But unless your car is totaled and purchased from you by the insurance company, your insurance company would need your permission or a warrant to get the data. The box is located either under your driver's seat or under the dash. But you shouldn't try to remove it because it operates your airbag. For now, only the data in General Motors vehicles can be accessed. But Ford is about to approve similar software.
The Article below is from Tech Live.
Is There a Black Box in Your Car?
Debate rages on whether devices are lifesavers or privacy invaders.
By Becky Worley, Tech Live
Black boxes in airplanes sometimes help investigators figure out what caused a crash. Black boxes in cars could do the same. If you're one of the nation's 190 million drivers, you may be carting around a passenger you aren't aware of. The event data recorder (EDR) -- a collection of sensing and diagnostic modules -- employs relatively new technology. As "Tech Live" reports tonight, some say the device will save lives, but the EDR is raising serious questions about privacy rights.
EDRs record the following data:
Vehicle speed (five seconds before impact) Engine speed (five seconds before impact) Brake status (five seconds before impact) Throttle position (five seconds before impact) State of driver's seat belt switch (On/Off) Passenger's airbag (On/Off) SIR Warning Lamp status (On/Off) Time from vehicle impact to airbag deployment Ignition cycle count at event time Ignition cycle count at investigation Maximum velocity for near-deployment event Velocity vs. time for frontal airbag deployment event Time from vehicle impact to time of maximum velocity Time between near-deploy and deploy event (if within five seconds)
Using this data, insurance agents and police officers can reconstruct the events leading up to a crash.
Black boxes have been in all GM cars since 1999 and in many other makes and models since 1996. (See the links below to see if your car comes standard with one.)
EDRs were originally intended to record what caused air bags to open. The data that triggers the air bag often tells the story of what happened in the seconds before a crash.
An even more advanced version of the EDR is being tested by Ford in police cars. This model sends data to 911 dispatchers in the event of a crash. It even allows dispatchers to talk to the occupants of the vehicle after the crash and relay the exact location of and number of passengers in the car.
Privacy concerns
Since these new black boxes are networked to the dispatchers, privacy issues rise even as auto execs tout the safety improvements afforded by the device. The big issue: tracking. Who monitors the data sent from each car?
David Sobel from the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) says he fears citizens will lose control of that data.
"The bottom line is, the user, in this case the driver, really needs to be in control of what kind of information is collected, how long it's maintained, and who is going to have access to it," he said.
Judy Bridgeman-Veal, a spokeswoman for the Ford Motor Company, disputes Sobel's concerns.
"This is not a constant monitoring system," she said. "Unless there is an accident, there will not be any tracking."
Even though auto companies insist privacy will be protected, there are currently no standards in place.
For more on EDRs, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has a comprehensive guide on its website.
1996 Model Cars
The following list is of 1996 model cars that come standard with EDRs, according to the Accident Reconstruction Network:
Buick Riviera Buick Skylark Chevrolet Astro Chevrolet Camaro Chevrolet Cavalier Chevrolet Express GMC Safari GMC Savana Oldsmobile Achie Oldsmobile Aurora Pontiac Firebird Pontiac Grand AM Pontiac Sunfire All Saturn models
1997 Model Cars
The following list is of 1997 model cars that come standard with EDRs, according to the Accident Reconstruction Network:
Buick Century Buick LeSabre Buick Park Avenue Buick Regal Buick Riviera Buick Skylark Cadillac Deville Cadillac Eldorado Cadillac Commercial Special Cadillac Seville Chevrolet Astro Chevrolet Camaro Chevrolet Cavalier Chevrolet Corvette Chevrolet Express Chevrolet Lumina Chevrolet Malibu Chevrolet Monte Carlo Chevrolet Silverado Chevrolet Suburban Chevrolet Tahoe Chevrolet Venture GM EV1 GMC Safari GMC Savana GMC Sierra GMC Yukon Oldsmobile Achieva Oldsmobile Aurora Oldsmobile Cutlass Oldsmobile Eighty Eight Oldsmobile Silhouette Pontiac Bonneville Pontiac Firebird Pontiac Grand AM Pontiac Grand Prix Pontiac Sunfire Pontiac Trans Port All Saturn models
1998 Model Cars
The following list is of 1998 model cars that come standard with EDRs, according to the Accident Reconstruction Network:
Buick Century Buick LeSabre Buick Park Avenue Buick Regal Buick Riviera Buick Skylark Cadillac Commercial Special Cadillac Deville Cadillac Eldorado Cadillac Seville Chevrolet Astro Chevrolet Blazer Chevrolet Camaro Chevrolet Cavalier Chevrolet Corvette Chevrolet Express Chevrolet Malibu Chevrolet Monte Carlo Chevrolet Lumina Chevrolet S10 Chevrolet S10 electric Chevrolet Silverado Chevrolet Suburban Chevrolet Tahoe GMC Jimmy GMC Safari GMC Savana GMC Sierra GMC Sonoma GMC Yukon Oldsmobile Achieva Oldsmobile Aurora Oldsmobile Bravada Oldsmobile Cutlass Oldsmobile Eighty Eight Oldsmobile Intrigue Pontiac Bonneville Pontiac Firebird Pontiac Grand AM Pontiac Grand Prix Pontiac Sunfire All Saturn models
1999 Model Cars
The following list is of 1999 model cars that come standard with EDRs, according to the Accident Reconstruction Network:
Buick Century Buick LeSabre Buick Park Avenue Buick Regal Buick Riviera Cadillac Commercial Special Cadillac Deville Cadillac Eldorado Cadillac Escalade Cadillac Seville Chevrolet Astro Chevrolet Blazer Chevrolet Camaro Chevrolet Cavalier Chevrolet Corvette Chevrolet Express Chevrolet Lumina Chevrolet Malibu Chevrolet Monte Carlo Chevrolet S10 Chevrolet S10 Electric Chevrolet Silverado Chevrolet Suburban Chevrolet Tahoe GM EV1 GMC Jimmy GMC Safari GMC Savana GMC Sierra GMC Sonoma GMC Yukon Oldsmobile Alero Oldsmobile Aurora Oldsmobile Bravada Oldsmobile Cutlass Oldsmobile Cutlass Oldsmobile Eighty Eight Oldsmobile Intrigue Pontiac Bonneville Pontiac Firebird Pontiac Grand AM Pontiac Grand Prix Pontiac Sunfire All Saturn Models
2000 Model Cars
The following list is of 2000 model cars that come standard with EDRs, according to the Accident Reconstruction Network:
Buick Century Buick LeSabre Buick Park Avenue Buick Regal Cadillac Commercial Special Cadillac Deville Cadillac Eldorado Cadillac Escalade Cadillac Seville Chevrolet Astro Chevrolet Blazer Chevrolet Camaro Chevrolet Cavalier Chevrolet Corvette Chevrolet Express Chevrolet Impala Chevrolet Lumina Chevrolet Malibu Chevrolet Monte Carlo Chevrolet S10 Chevrolet Silverado Chevrolet Suburban Chevrolet Tahoe Chevrolet Venture GMC Jimmy GMC Safari GMC Savana GMC Sierra GMC Sonoma GMC Yukon Isuzu Hombre Oldsmobile Alero Oldsmobile Bravada Oldsmobile Intrigue Oldsmobile Silhouette Pontiac Bonneville Pontiac Firebird Pontiac Grand Am Pontiac Grand Prix Pontiac Montana Pontiac Sunfire All Saturns except the LS
2001 Model Cars
The following list is of 2001 model cars that come standard with EDRs, according to the Accident Reconstruction Network:
Buick Century Buick Park Avenue Buick Regal Cadillac Commercial Special Cadillac Deville Cadillac Eldorado Cadillac Escalade Cadillac Seville Chevrolet Astro Chevrolet Blazer Chevrolet Camaro Chevrolet Cavalier Chevrolet Corvette Chevrolet Express Chevrolet Lumina Chevrolet Malibu Chevrolet S10 Chevrolet Silverado Chevrolet Suburban Chevrolet Tahoe Chevrolet Venture GMC Jimmy GMC Safari GMC Savana GMC Sierra GMC Sonoma GMC Yukon Isuzu Hombre Oldsmobile Alero Oldsmobile Aurora Oldsmobile Bravada Oldsmobile Intrigue Oldsmobile Silhouette Pontiac Firebird Pontiac Grand Am Pontiac Grand Prix Pontiac Montana Pontiac Sunfire All Saturns except the LS
2002 Model Cars
The following list is of 2002 model cars that come standard with EDRs, according to the Accident Reconstruction Network:
Buick Century Buick LeSabre Buick Park Avenue Buick Regal Buick Rendezvous Cadillac Commercial Special Cadillac Deville Cadillac Eldorado Cadillac Escalade Cadillac Seville Chevrolet Avalanche Chevrolet Astro Chevrolet Blazer Chevrolet Camaro Chevrolet Cavalier Chevrolet Corvette Chevrolet Express Chevrolet Impala Chevrolet Lumina Chevrolet Malibu Chevrolet S10 Chevrolet Silverado Chevrolet Suburban Chevrolet Tahoe Chevrolet TrailBlazer GMC Envoy GMC Safari GMC Savana GMC Sierra GMC Sonoma GMC Yukon Isuzu Hombre Oldsmobile Alero Oldsmobile Aurora Oldsmobile Bravada Oldsmobile Intrigue Pontiac Aztec Pontiac Bonneville Pontiac Firebird Pontiac Grand Am Pontiac Grand Prix Pontiac Sunfire All Saturns except the LS
Ernest, please do that hi-tech ping thing that you do so well. Maybe some hi-tech FReeper knows how to get rid of this spy-in-the-car thingy.
Sure makes me appreciate my '65 Mustang.
Cops get warrants. Civil litigants would use a Request for Production. (F.R.Civ.P. Rule 34) State Rules may vary. Or better yet, if state law permits, draft access rights into the insurance contract itself.
Too obvious. However, it should be possible to discharge a big ol' capacitor into that eeprom chip via the data port under the dash. Think "ZOT!" :-)
So find it and smash the crap out of it now before it becomes evidence.
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