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Author	Topic: Black boxes in cars: Invasion of your privacy?	Post a Reply Back to Topics

loloTX Rookie Author Austin Posts:9 Points:24,555 Joined:Jun 2012	Message Posted: Jan 11, 2013 12:12:23 PM Ignore loloTX Report Abuse here's an event data recorder, or EDR, in many cars -- what is commonly called a "black box." It tracks your car's movements and the actions you take as a driver, and now there are federal guidelines that standardize the information being collected. There is much debate over this information and when and how it can be used. EDRs have been in cars for a couple of decades and were placed there by automakers as a way for them to access information about the car's movements and driver behavior to help determine if a vehicle malfunctioned or the driver was in error in the event of a lawsuit. Today, most passenger cars and light-duty pickups have event data recorders. They are not required equipment in cars, but they may be for the 2015 model year if pending legislation pass Visit Bank rate for full article

loloTX

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Austin

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Message Posted: Jan 11, 2013 12:12:23 PM

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here's an event data recorder, or EDR, in many cars -- what is commonly called a "black box." It tracks your car's movements and the actions you take as a driver, and now there are federal guidelines that standardize the information being collected.
There is much debate over this information and when and how it can be used.
EDRs have been in cars for a couple of decades and were placed there by automakers as a way for them to access information about the car's movements and driver behavior to help determine if a vehicle malfunctioned or the driver was in error in the event of a lawsuit.
Today, most passenger cars and light-duty pickups have event data recorders. They are not required equipment in cars, but they may be for the 2015 model year if pending legislation pass
Visit Bank rate for full article

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lesndave Champion Author Texas Posts:3,032 Points:699,430 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Jan 12, 2013 10:44:55 PM Ignore lesndave Report Abuse Don't want one in my car
clpassenubye Champion Author Los Angeles Posts:3,359 Points:751,730 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Jan 12, 2013 5:44:46 PM Ignore clpassenubye Report Abuse It really depends how the info gained from theses boxes will be used.
remay Champion Author Houston Posts:6,958 Points:2,115,665 Joined:May 2006	Message Posted: Jan 12, 2013 5:21:19 PM Ignore remay Report Abuse We have drive-right equipment in company vehicles, and its worked out fine, so it shouldn't be an issue to have "black boxes" in EVERYONE's vehicle...
Radar1992 Champion Author Florida Posts:1,315 Points:308,215 Joined:Dec 2011	Message Posted: Jan 12, 2013 8:54:00 AM Ignore Radar1992 Report Abuse Just like digitization of our medical records it will be used against the consumer. Keep Big Brother out of our cars....
blupupher Champion Author Houston Posts:3,540 Points:746,095 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Jan 12, 2013 8:40:36 AM Ignore blupupher Report Abuse not crazy about them. Need some way to keep people out of them that don't need to be in them.
TruthMatters Champion Author New Jersey Posts:2,520 Points:532,485 Joined:Oct 2011	Message Posted: Jan 12, 2013 8:14:50 AM Ignore TruthMatters Report Abuse Bring them on! I'm all for it. Anything that helps to make driving safer? Go for it!
Pmgr Veteran Author San Antonio Posts:479 Points:126,230 Joined:Jan 2013	Message Posted: Jan 12, 2013 1:05:56 AM Ignore Pmgr Report Abuse good potential
kkimes Champion Author Illinois Posts:1,596 Points:1,504,735 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Jan 12, 2013 1:04:12 AM Ignore kkimes Report Abuse Sure hope that they put them in every car. While it won't prevent accidents, it may give a lot of good data that will lead to safer designs or a change as yet unseen that will make more accidents avoidable or possibly even modify driver behavior.
BennoBlue Champion Author Virginia Posts:37,029 Points:1,463,770 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Jan 12, 2013 12:17:17 AM Ignore BennoBlue Report Abuse What they don't say is that the EDR (Event Data Recorder, aka "black box") can hold a maximum of 5 seconds of data. It is activated during a crash by the same type of sensor as activates the air bag, and it only tracks information about the crash itself, no audio, no personal data, no location or tracking data. As the article says, there are 15 items tracked, including the car's speed, how far the accelerator was depressed, the engine's RPMs, whether the brakes had been engaged, and how long it took the airbag to deploy. The purpose is to improve safety of vehicles by learning more about what has happened in a real-world accident. Or, as NHTSA Administrator David Strickland says: "EDRs provide critical safety information that might not otherwise be available to NHTSA to evaluate what happened during a crash — and what future steps could be taken to save lives and prevent injuries. A broader EDR requirement would ensure the agency has the safety-related information it needs to determine what factors may contribute to crashes across all vehicle manufacturers." It's already in most vehicles, installed with the airbag. If your car has an airbag, it probably already has an EDR. Even if the insurance company were to be allowed to read the EDR, it's wouldn't tell them anything except what happened at the time of the accident.
cheap59 Champion Author Michigan Posts:4,240 Points:960,770 Joined:May 2010	Message Posted: Jan 12, 2013 12:09:15 AM Ignore cheap59 Report Abuse Yep!
Ply440GTX All-Star Author Texas Posts:949 Points:309,730 Joined:Feb 2009	Message Posted: Jan 11, 2013 9:46:27 PM Ignore Ply440GTX Report Abuse The only "black box" I want in MY car would be Meagan Good! OWWWWW!!!
esq262 Champion Author Asheville Posts:2,892 Points:646,540 Joined:Jul 2011	Message Posted: Jan 11, 2013 9:35:11 PM Ignore esq262 Report Abuse Not good.
Tacodan Champion Author Cincinnati Posts:2,309 Points:652,260 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Jan 11, 2013 9:28:06 PM Ignore Tacodan Report Abuse no more than a prostrate exam
autotech46 Veteran Author New Hampshire Posts:430 Points:60,550 Joined:Nov 2011	Message Posted: Jan 11, 2013 9:14:43 PM Ignore autotech46 Report Abuse The only way the information is on your side is it takes a freeze frame when that nasty check engine light comes on. This lets a technician duplicate the conditions for setting the computer error. We could care how fast or heavy your foot was other than the problem occurs when sitting still or at 60mph
Peachy1 All-Star Author St. Louis Posts:762 Points:1,649,265 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Jan 11, 2013 8:33:14 PM Ignore Peachy1 Report Abuse The Gov't wants it to where no one can drive a vehicle...too expensive, too much regulation, too much for insurance, too much invasion of privacy.
peabeax55 All-Star Author Atlanta Posts:713 Points:185,515 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Jan 11, 2013 6:45:00 PM Ignore peabeax55 Report Abuse You people who agree with this can have the black boxes. "Give an inch, take a mile" applies to the government. There will be more and more intrusion into your personal travel, destinations, how long you were there, whether you crossed state lines, did you visit family?, a gun store?,a known drug den?, a bar you frequent?, Does that subject you to a "visit" by the local police? I could go on, but at what point would it have gone too far..in your opinion?
wamster Champion Author Houston Posts:4,243 Points:693,855 Joined:May 2007	Message Posted: Jan 11, 2013 6:07:57 PM Ignore wamster Report Abuse They have EDR's in planes. What's the big deal about having themin cars. My 2010 has one.
mike56MI Champion Author Michigan Posts:1,210 Points:306,390 Joined:Aug 2011	Message Posted: Jan 11, 2013 5:53:45 PM Ignore mike56MI Report Abuse No way
cmgodwin All-Star Author Raleigh Posts:914 Points:281,475 Joined:Dec 2011	Message Posted: Jan 11, 2013 5:53:24 PM Ignore cmgodwin Report Abuse What industry is pushing for these black boxes?
PathfinderSC Champion Author South Carolina Posts:9,511 Points:1,829,665 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Jan 11, 2013 5:36:23 PM Ignore PathfinderSC Report Abuse Don't like it, The Government got its finger in to much now.
Nicoalbum Champion Author Ottawa Posts:6,013 Points:1,187,260 Joined:Jan 2010	Message Posted: Jan 11, 2013 5:21:39 PM Ignore Nicoalbum Report Abuse I'd like to have just a dashcam integrated
LostInNY Champion Author New York Posts:1,711 Points:646,095 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Jan 11, 2013 4:37:43 PM Ignore LostInNY Report Abuse the law should allow the owners the ability to see what's actually being recorded...
CVA19 Champion Author Salem Posts:2,393 Points:607,950 Joined:Aug 2011	Message Posted: Jan 11, 2013 4:12:22 PM Ignore CVA19 Report Abuse Yes!
pleinyeux All-Star Author Montreal Posts:776 Points:198,655 Joined:Oct 2012	Message Posted: Jan 11, 2013 3:54:10 PM Ignore pleinyeux Report Abuse Do you really trust your insurance company to want you to spend less? Absolutely Noooooooooo
MadFueler All-Star Author Winston-Salem Posts:912 Points:170,560 Joined:Sep 2012	Message Posted: Jan 11, 2013 3:54:06 PM Ignore MadFueler Report Abuse Hooking it up to a common jump starter would probably do the trick - but isn't it part of the engine diagnostics? If so, the car might not run right. (In other words, I think they've got us.)
doggod Champion Author Anchorage Posts:2,838 Points:739,410 Joined:May 2009	Message Posted: Jan 11, 2013 3:51:16 PM Ignore doggod Report Abuse I'm surprised someone hasn't come out with a cheap little tool you can use to fry this box.
MadFueler All-Star Author Winston-Salem Posts:912 Points:170,560 Joined:Sep 2012	Message Posted: Jan 11, 2013 3:37:41 PM Ignore MadFueler Report Abuse People always raise a fuss if the government starts to look too closely at our private affairs, but we fail to realize that corporations are in the back door already - and insurance companies are just one example. For instance, they tell repair shops not to let customers watch their cars being worked on, employers to let perfectly good employees go because they spent a night in jail for an offense unrelated to their work, all just because the "risk" increases. No room for our own judgement. They even decide your rates on the basis of your credit rating - something they shouldn't even get to see because insurance is prepaid, not on credit. We need to apply the Fourth Amendment not only to the government, but to these nosy companies as well.
nsdp Champion Author San Antonio Posts:1,117 Points:47,290 Joined:Jun 2012	Message Posted: Jan 11, 2013 3:37:35 PM Ignore nsdp Report Abuse Mr Death if you have a cell phone that uses iPhone, Android, Windows or anything other than the old Nokia Meego you have a spy in your truck. It is your cell phone. It broadcasts your location using GPS reception and using that some one can go to your cell carrier and know where your cell phone and most likely you are 24 hours a day and if you are driving how fast and what road you are on.
bsnort Veteran Author Huntsville Posts:419 Points:232,880 Joined:Aug 2012	Message Posted: Jan 11, 2013 3:14:16 PM Ignore bsnort Report Abuse You never know how good your insurance company is until something bad happens
mkohly Veteran Author Chicago Posts:263 Points:24,245 Joined:Sep 2009	Message Posted: Jan 11, 2013 2:30:59 PM Ignore mkohly Report Abuse fencemanNY Do you really trust your insurance company to want you to spend less? Or do you agree they are out to maximize their profits (like everyone else) First - give "discounts" to those willing to be monitored, but ONLY if they are good drivers (and they decide what is "good") Once they have this in place, they use the "guilty until innocent" logic, figuring anyone NOT being monitored must therefor be a bad driver, so has to pay more. Finally, those getting "discounts" get their rates raised as there is no more reason to give the discount. Simple greed, carried out in a few steps, and it works because there are enough "sheep" to buy into the sales pitch [Edited by: mkohly at 1/11/2013 2:34:29 PM EST]
Taxrefugee Champion Author Arizona Posts:1,391 Points:385,045 Joined:Jan 2012	Message Posted: Jan 11, 2013 2:07:15 PM Ignore Taxrefugee Report Abuse Absolutely!!!
fullcirclethink Champion Author Washington Posts:2,006 Points:159,200 Joined:Jun 2009	Message Posted: Jan 11, 2013 1:53:03 PM Ignore fullcirclethink Report Abuse Answer: Yes. But when did that ever stop the government?
HorizonChaser Champion Author Montgomery Posts:1,973 Points:453,860 Joined:Dec 2011	Message Posted: Jan 11, 2013 1:45:10 PM Ignore HorizonChaser Report Abuse Yes, they are an invasion of privacy. I am against them.
deputydog082 Champion Author Detroit Posts:1,775 Points:658,390 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Jan 11, 2013 1:27:04 PM Ignore deputydog082 Report Abuse they're not going away as they been installed for years not
Tekkersmom57 Champion Author Syracuse Posts:1,869 Points:699,240 Joined:May 2010	Message Posted: Jan 11, 2013 1:22:32 PM Ignore Tekkersmom57 Report Abuse Perfect response, hmw10284! I couldn't have said it better myself.
fencemanNY Veteran Author New York Posts:409 Points:355,585 Joined:Jul 2008	Message Posted: Jan 11, 2013 1:21:04 PM Ignore fencemanNY Report Abuse I'd love to pay less for car insurance cuz they look at the way I drive. Those that are reckless drivers (as shown by the black box) should pay more.
TripleHs Champion Author Austin Posts:3,355 Points:915,740 Joined:Oct 2009	Message Posted: Jan 11, 2013 1:08:32 PM Ignore TripleHs Report Abuse i don't like it as it is unnecessary and costly and it invades our privacy
schatzila Champion Author Los Angeles Posts:4,939 Points:1,014,670 Joined:Jun 2010	Message Posted: Jan 11, 2013 1:07:15 PM Ignore schatzila Report Abuse Doesn't scare me.
MrDeath666 Champion Author Houston Posts:1,606 Points:242,240 Joined:Sep 2012	Message Posted: Jan 11, 2013 1:03:30 PM Ignore MrDeath666 Report Abuse No "Big Brother" in my truck!
bicycler Champion Author Ontario Posts:14,815 Points:2,598,445 Joined:May 2005	Message Posted: Jan 11, 2013 12:57:23 PM Ignore bicycler Report Abuse I would like one that could be read by me. If my son had one 4 years ago he would not have had such a 4 year fight with the insurance company of the creep who crossed the line and hit him and took off! The police backed my son but that did not speed up the insurance company. Finally they had to pay!
djwhit Champion Author Ohio Posts:3,002 Points:1,206,505 Joined:Jul 2009	Message Posted: Jan 11, 2013 12:51:23 PM Ignore djwhit Report Abuse SOUNDS LIKE MORE MONEY............
hmw10284 Champion Author California Posts:1,127 Points:195,275 Joined:Sep 2012	Message Posted: Jan 11, 2013 12:44:11 PM Ignore hmw10284 Report Abuse Invasion by having a black box. No. Invasion by giving access of the data to any entity with out your express permission. Yes.
humblepie Champion Author Toledo Posts:34,147 Points:2,369,420 Joined:Mar 2006	Message Posted: Jan 11, 2013 12:41:51 PM Ignore humblepie Report Abuse news flash, they have been in our cars for years
BUSMAN1105 Champion Author Atlanta Posts:2,152 Points:1,169,070 Joined:Aug 2008	Message Posted: Jan 11, 2013 12:37:47 PM Ignore BUSMAN1105 Report Abuse YES, IT'S A INVASION OF MY PRIVACY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
truvoice1 Champion Author San Diego Posts:1,278 Points:472,615 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Jan 11, 2013 12:35:28 PM Ignore truvoice1 Report Abuse Unfortunately, EDRs are another example of how our privacy is being eroded, bit by bit. The government now monitors ALL of our emails and cell phone calls and eventually they will use the EDRs to track every citizens movement around the country, using preventing terrorism as their excuse to continue to violate our privacy rights. Soon you will see your insurance company using the EDRs to raise your rates if you drive too fast or drive irresponsibly (by their measurement). We are now on the slippery slope sliding down in to a Big Brother government and we seem to be helpless to prevent it!
Bussman Champion Author Dallas Posts:5,508 Points:1,358,010 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Jan 11, 2013 12:30:18 PM Ignore Bussman Report Abuse Be careful of your government...VERY CAREFUL! Elections have consequences. Don't be "sold" by someone's likeability or whether they are "cool". That person has a record that must be critically analyzed as well as, and perhaps more importantly, a party platform that that candidate represents. Analyze both very critically before casting a vote and perhaps unknowingly decreasing your freedom without even knowing it. Research Alexander Tytler and what is attributed to him, "the Tytler Cycle" which is also known as democracy's "fatal sequence". If you weren't taught this in school it's a shame but check out where you would place the U.S. in Tytler's fatal sequence. Frightening really.
BIGOILEATURCRUD Champion Author North Carolina Posts:5,755 Points:1,376,675 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Jan 11, 2013 12:28:09 PM Ignore BIGOILEATURCRUD Report Abuse "EDRs have been in cars for a couple of decades" More than a couple.
07skydriver Champion Author Ohio Posts:3,250 Points:981,155 Joined:Feb 2009	Message Posted: Jan 11, 2013 12:27:29 PM Ignore 07skydriver Report Abuse Just stay home.