.boB

These black boxes can be a real problem. The big legal questuion is, who owns the information? The normal person would assume that you own the car, you own the black box, so you own the info. But we're talking about lawyers, and they're not normal. In an accident, they could get a hold of the info and use it against you.

kthulhu

No way to disconnect the Event Data Recorder; it's a part of the very complex system that controls your airbags. Not sure about ours exactly, but they usually only record a brief moment before a airbag deployment or near deployment.

It goes both ways; a good number of folks have been saved the trouble of even being brought to court because their "black boxes" showed they were driving reasonably at the time of a nasty wreck.

I'm pretty sure there are already a number of court cases deciding the "search and seizure" guidelines for the Event Data Recorders. Typically this data is only getting pulled in the case of fatal wrecks, in which case I don't have much pity for you if you were screwing off.

timothyrw

i just checked to see if it was on the 2005's, which it is, so I would think it would be safe to assume that if it was on the 05's it would be on every year after.

Roy_R

Yes, and when you exceed the speed limit, you will be fined and the monies automatically deducted from your account.

The record will also be disclosed when you sell the car to see if you abused the car...

Bmr4life

I'm not sure if you're joking or not, but that is seriously where this is headed.

The Nissan GTR uses built in GPS to limit the cars top speed to 112mph (in japan) unless it is on a race track. The same way they limit it, they could easily extract that data and send it to the police.


That's exactly what the article was talking about. Who owns the data. Technically, the person that owns the car owns the data, but police and insurance could easily get lawyers involved and make the owner give up the info.

AK_Kayaker

A little part I copied from a 2007 Mustang owners manual, pages 6 & 7.

"Event Data Recording
Other modules in your vehicle — event data recorders — are capable of
collecting and storing data during a crash or near crash event. The
recorded information may assist in the investigation of such an event.
The modules may record information about both the vehicle and the
occupants, potentially including information such as:
• how various systems in your vehicle were operating;
• whether or not the driver and passenger seatbelts were buckled;
• how far (if at all) the driver was depressing the accelerator and/or the
brake pedal;
• how fast the vehicle was traveling; and
• where the driver was positioning the steering wheel.

To access this information, special equipment must be directly connected
to the recording modules. Ford Motor Company and Ford of Canada do
not access event data recorder information without obtaining consent,
unless pursuant to court order or where required by law enforcement,
other government authorities or other third parties acting with lawful
authority. Other parties may seek to access the information
independently of Ford Motor Company and Ford of Canada."


yikes I may have to find this module, and introduce it to a high voltage spike.

jwog666

this was mainly introduced to prevent lawsuits by people claiming that the accident was the fault of the manufacturer. this gives the car company a way to disprove false claims. im a tech at a ford dealer and only ford corporate has the equipment to acces this data. dont get too paranoid.

Bmr4life

true for us now, but that may change in the future. Nissan dealers use the GTR's onboard recorders when doing vehicle maintenance!!

Leoleo

It is part of your PCM, so if you do, I don't think the car will run.

It maybe covered under a warrenty claim. HAHA jk jk