Download 0413241_edr_requests_for_comment.doc
Recently, the NHTSA published a final rule for comment on the inclusion of event data recorders (EDRs) (aka "Black Boxes") in cars and trucks. The rule proposes voluntary inclusion of EDRs allowing manufacturers to elect whether to install such devices. NHTSA had been considering two separate petitions by individuals to mandate inclusion of EDRs.
Many cars and trucks already are equipped with these recording devices. While the NHTSA is not mandating inclusion in future vehicle production, the agency proposes to require manufacturers who voluntarily install EDRs to capture specific information and prohibits the treatment of the recorded data to be deemed proprietary.
Concerns for privacy prompted California to enact legislation prohibiting the use of EDR data without the vehicle owner's express consent or absent a court order. This legislation went in to effect for all vehicles manufactured after July 1, 2004.
Event Data Recorders: The Black Box of the Road; The Black Box Revisited
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