Black Boxes Can Present Problems in Car Accidents
Car manufacturers are installing black boxes in their vehicles which result in accurate accident information, but cause driver concerns over privacy.

November 16, 2011 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Similar to airplanes, most new cars are being installed with event data recorders -- more commonly known as "black boxes." The black box data gives details to investigators about the vehicle and a driver's behavior prior to and during an accident.

Details provided by the black box typically include the speed of the vehicle, the direction the car was being steered, and whether or not seatbelts were being used. Information such as this is constantly being recorded, but is only saved when the car's air bags are deployed. Accident investigators are able to use this information to help reconstruct what happened at the scene of a motor vehicle accident.

Gathering an accurate depiction of the events that led to an accident is important, but the information provided by black boxes can also cause problems for some drivers -- since it can be used to help determine who was responsible for the accident.

Information stored in the data recorder can often present a picture of an incident that some drivers are unable (or unwilling) to accurately state in order to avoid

admitting negligence or accepting fault with their insurance companies.

When Does Black Box Data Use Overshadow Privacy Rights?

Additionally, some auto insurance companies use the data collected by black boxes to create a profile of a driver's habits and determine how much his or her insurance premiums should cost.

Understandably, many drivers are uneasy about their driving behavior being recorded and, in some states, being downloaded after an accident without their consent. Many feel that there is an invasion of privacy involved in even recording this information.

According to the National Motorists Association drivers often request that the systems be disabled, but most systems cannot be as they are too integrated into the computer systems that control the car.

Though the data recorders are not required by law to be installed in cars, most manufacturers are continuing to do so because they believe that these black boxes provide valuable information that goes towards the long-term safety of their vehicles and can be used to help improve future innovations. Dealerships also like the black boxes because they provide insight to vehicle malfunctions and help identify maintenance problems.

Debate over recording driver information will continue, but it appears likely that black boxes will continue to be standard on future automobiles.

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