Mandating the installation of EDRs - Black Boxes

Feuer Frei! · 08-16-13, 04:11 AM

EDR's, short for Event Data Recorders, or Black Boxes.

Quote:

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration rule requires all light passenger vehicles be equipped with an EDR [event data recorder] 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.

SOURCE

Wolferz · 08-16-13, 11:00 AM

They can put one in my pick up truck... if they pay for it! Otherwise they can go fish. The EDR will be a pain in the butt for folks driving older vehicles that predate ECMs and ABS and I see it as cost prohibitive in a big way. The article didn't mention any grandfather clause and leaves me to assume a great many questions. Like...
Are they only requiring this on newly manufactured cars?
Are they going to require this on any and all cars now on the road?
Are they going to subsidize the installation of all the necessary electronics and sensors required to make the EDR work as intended?
Are they going to just kick older vehicles off the road for not having it?

Will LEOs be given equipment to plug into a speeding motorists car to prove how fast they were travelling during their trip?

The noblest of intentions don't always pan out in practical applications.
Just more lawmaker stupidity if you ask me.

Ducimus · 08-16-13, 11:10 AM

I wonder how hard it would be to remove it and if cars will be hardwired to have them or not work correctly.

soopaman2 · 08-16-13, 11:13 AM

My concern is how many more thousands will this add to the prices of a car.

Not like automotive companies ever balked at a chance for extra profits.

Unit costs 1k, sell it for 4 k extra.

(Oh I edited, oh noes)

Dowly · 08-16-13, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ducimus

I wonder how hard it would be to remove it and if cars will be hardwired to have them or not work correctly.

I bet someone with a little knowledge of the system could remove/disconnect it.

Legality of such action? I got no idea. What if a car that should have EDR is part
of an accident and the investigators find out the device has been removed/disconnected.
What would happen then?

Ducimus · 08-16-13, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dowly

I bet someone with a little knowledge of the system could remove/disconnect it.

Legality of such action? I got no idea. What if a car that should have EDR is part
of an accident and the investigators find out the device has been removed/disconnected.
What would happen then?

Hypothetically speaking should one be in my car, I am honestly not overly concerned about the legality of removing a device such as this from my personal property.

Wolferz · 08-16-13, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ducimus

I wonder how hard it would be to remove it and if cars will be hardwired to have them or not work correctly.

Oh, they'll hardwire the things in there and make it a felony to remove or circumvent them.
IE: My 1995 Chevrolet truck came with a federally mandated driver's side airbag. If I pull the fuse on the airbag to prevent accidental deployment while working on it, the automatic transmission won't shift out of first gear until I put the fuse back.
I would wager that the same thing would happen if I removed the airbag altogether, which is integrated into the horn button and prevents me from installing a custom steering wheel.

I have no doubt that I could bypass it by simply installing the proper value resistor across the connection to fool the ECM into thinking the airbag was still there. But I won't. I kind of like the idea of getting punched in the face for not paying attention to the road.

Dowly · 08-16-13, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ducimus

Hypothetically speaking should one be in my car, I am honestly not overly concerned about the legality of removing a device such as this from my personal property.

Guess that's for the feds to decide.

Though, system like this could do some good too, in unclear situations, the data
from an EDR might prove to be crucial. But, of course, it can be a PITA too.

Ah well, like Bubbles said in another thread: I dont live there so what do I know.

Ducimus · 08-16-13, 11:54 AM

These days with all that's been going on, I just get pigheaded about stuff like this. No thanks on the surveillance state.

Gargamel · 08-16-13, 11:55 AM

It's just like the airbag or seatbelt law.

Cars without them will be grandfathered in, new cars will have them. Most already do. How do you think that Progressive Insurance data thingy works? By tapping into your black box.

I think these things are excellent for accident investigation. It helps place the blame on the correct party.

Gargamel · 08-16-13, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wolferz

I kind of like the idea of getting punched in the face for not paying attention to the road.

As many wrecks I have worked, that is usually the case.

I always do enjoy the people who have to call 911 for not seeing that cement pylon (painted safety yellow btw) in the parking lot and running smack into it. Not much damage to it or the car, but they end up with minor burns and a bloody nose from the airbag.

soopaman2 · 08-16-13, 12:01 PM

Got alot of toll roads here.

Got something called EZpass.

For those outside of America, it is a device that allows you to pay tolls without stopping.

It can also know when you drive at 90 mph on the Parkway or Turnpike, due to being able to measure your time between stops. I never got a ticket for my speeding. ( The GS parkway is unique, as 90 mph is the average speed, and the state police never really pull you over unless you are weaving traffic.)

I had one pass me at 90 mph and not only blazed by me, but waved at me on the way by.

A Strange dynamic.

I invite everyone to the NJ autobahn, stop off at exit 105 for tea or coffee with me.

Wolferz · 08-16-13, 12:11 PM

Ah, New Jersey. The only state I know that charges a toll to leave it.

How much did you spend crossing that bridge on I-80 during your move, Wernher?

soopaman2 · 08-16-13, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wolferz

Ah, New Jersey. The only state I know that charges a toll to leave it.

Can be called a cliche, but is true. No lie, we got more tolls than the River Styx.

Ducimus · 08-16-13, 12:14 PM

I have to wonder...

Ok so my wife likes to watch "real housewives". No I don't think they're real housewives. The title of that show is a crock of BS. Should be more like "Really entitled Diva's". Anyway, are people in New Jersey really anything like what I watched (more like suffered through) in that real housewives series?

08-16-13, 11:00 AM	#2
Wolferz Navy Seal Join Date: May 2007 Location: On a mighty quest for the Stick of Truth Posts: 5,963 Downloads: 52 Uploads: 0	Big brother needs his nose flattened... They can put one in my pick up truck... if they pay for it! Otherwise they can go fish. The EDR will be a pain in the butt for folks driving older vehicles that predate ECMs and ABS and I see it as cost prohibitive in a big way. The article didn't mention any grandfather clause and leaves me to assume a great many questions. Like... Are they only requiring this on newly manufactured cars? Are they going to require this on any and all cars now on the road? Are they going to subsidize the installation of all the necessary electronics and sensors required to make the EDR work as intended? Are they going to just kick older vehicles off the road for not having it? Will LEOs be given equipment to plug into a speeding motorists car to prove how fast they were travelling during their trip? The noblest of intentions don't always pan out in practical applications. Just more lawmaker stupidity if you ask me. __________________ Tomorrow never comes

08-16-13, 11:13 AM	#4
soopaman2 Der Alte Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: New Jersey, USA Posts: 3,316 Downloads: 61 Uploads: 0	My concern is how many more thousands will this add to the prices of a car. Not like automotive companies ever balked at a chance for extra profits. Unit costs 1k, sell it for 4 k extra. (Oh I edited, oh noes) __________________ If Hitler invaded Hell I would make at least a favourable reference to the devil in the House of Commons. -Winston Churchill- The most fascinating man in the world.

08-16-13, 11:55 AM	#10
Gargamel Lucky Sailor Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Rome Posts: 4,273 Downloads: 81 Uploads: 0	It's just like the airbag or seatbelt law. Cars without them will be grandfathered in, new cars will have them. Most already do. How do you think that Progressive Insurance data thingy works? By tapping into your black box. I think these things are excellent for accident investigation. It helps place the blame on the correct party. __________________ Luck is a residue of Design.

08-16-13, 12:01 PM	#12
soopaman2 Der Alte Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: New Jersey, USA Posts: 3,316 Downloads: 61 Uploads: 0	Got alot of toll roads here. Got something called EZpass. For those outside of America, it is a device that allows you to pay tolls without stopping. It can also know when you drive at 90 mph on the Parkway or Turnpike, due to being able to measure your time between stops. I never got a ticket for my speeding. ( The GS parkway is unique, as 90 mph is the average speed, and the state police never really pull you over unless you are weaving traffic.) I had one pass me at 90 mph and not only blazed by me, but waved at me on the way by. A Strange dynamic. I invite everyone to the NJ autobahn, stop off at exit 105 for tea or coffee with me. __________________ If Hitler invaded Hell I would make at least a favourable reference to the devil in the House of Commons. -Winston Churchill- The most fascinating man in the world.

08-16-13, 12:11 PM	#13
Wolferz Navy Seal Join Date: May 2007 Location: On a mighty quest for the Stick of Truth Posts: 5,963 Downloads: 52 Uploads: 0	Ah, New Jersey. The only state I know that charges a toll to leave it. How much did you spend crossing that bridge on I-80 during your move, Wernher? __________________ Tomorrow never comes

08-16-13, 11:10 AM	#3
Ducimus Rear Admiral Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 12,987 Downloads: 67 Uploads: 2	I wonder how hard it would be to remove it and if cars will be hardwired to have them or not work correctly.

08-16-13, 11:54 AM	#9
Ducimus Rear Admiral Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 12,987 Downloads: 67 Uploads: 2	These days with all that's been going on, I just get pigheaded about stuff like this. No thanks on the surveillance state.

08-16-13, 12:14 PM	#15
Ducimus Rear Admiral Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 12,987 Downloads: 67 Uploads: 2	I have to wonder... Ok so my wife likes to watch "real housewives". No I don't think they're real housewives. The title of that show is a crock of BS. Should be more like "Really entitled Diva's". Anyway, are people in New Jersey really anything like what I watched (more like suffered through) in that real housewives series?