On Tap: Black Boxes for All Passenger Vehicles
Your driving habits soon will be an open book to insurers and police in the aftermath of an accident or car malfunction.
A law coming this fall will require automakers to install “black boxes” in all passenger vehicles, starting with 2013 models.
Electronic data recorders more sophisticated than the ones now in about 60% of new cars will capture information about vehicular speed, direction, engine performance, brakes and electronic systems. They’ll also tell insurance investigators and law enforcement officers a lot about vehicles involved in accidents -- everything from whether drivers were wearing safety belts to exactly when air bags deployed, for example.
Besides requiring the recorders in all new cars, the government will also implement standards for what’s recorded and how -- a big change from today’s recorders, which are mainly used by manufacturers and repair shops for help in diagnosing problems when a car is in for service.
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free E-Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
Uniform formats for data collected by black boxes will permit apples-to-apples comparisons of vehicle and driver performance prior to accidents, eliminating much of the educated guesswork.
The impetus for the law: Toyota’s recall of millions of vehicles this past winter after a slew of incidents of sudden vehicle acceleration that still are largely unexplained. As a result of vehicle acceleration problems, the law also will require automakers to install braking systems that automatically override the accelerator in the case of a runaway vehicle. Moreover, it will raise the maximum fine for automakers found to be in violation of safety regulations to at least $200 million, from $16.4 million now.
Subpoenas will be required for law enforcement officials to gain access to black box information, since the data by law are the vehicle owner’s property. Courts are likely to acquiesce, though. They’ve shown no reluctance thus far to approve subpoenas for black boxes.
To continue reading this article
please register for free
This is different from signing in to your print subscription
Why am I seeing this? Find out more here
-
Is a Phased Retirement Right for You?
Want to keep working, just not as hard? A phased retirement may just be the answer.
By Kimberly Lankford Published
-
Four Tips to Make Your Sales Presentation a Winner
Being prepared and not being boring can go a long way toward persuading a potential customer to buy into what you’re offering.
By H. Dennis Beaver, Esq. Published
-
When's the Best Time to Buy a Domestic Flight? The Kiplinger Letter
The Kiplinger Letter A new study by CheapAir.com has crunched the numbers.
By Sean Lengell Published
-
Woes Continue for Banking Sector: The Kiplinger Letter
The Kiplinger Letter Regional bank stocks were hammered recently after news of New York Community Bank’s big fourth-quarter loss.
By Rodrigo Sermeño Published
-
Anxious Flyers Take Note: The Kiplinger Letter
The Kiplinger Letter Whether it's the routes to avoid that have the most turbulence or the safest airline, we've got you covered.
By Sean Lengell Published
-
The Auto Industry Outlook for 2024
The Kiplinger Letter Here's what to expect in the auto industry this year. If you’re in the market for a car it won’t be quite as daunting as it was during the pandemic and after.
By David Payne Published
-
Two More Travel Trends for 2024: The Kiplinger Letter
The Kiplinger Letter As the world gets moving again, two more travel trends to consider: Solo cruising and airline passengers with loaded guns.
By Sean Lengell Published
-
Three Travel Trends Will Drive the Industry This Year: The Kiplinger Letter
The Kiplinger Letter New travel trends like set-jetting, destination “dupes” and tour traveling will propel the travel industry in 2024.
By Sean Lengell Published
-
State Economics — Spotlight on New England: The Kiplinger Letter
The Kiplinger Letter After a better-than-expected 2023, New England states will see only modest employment growth in 2024.
By David Payne Published
-
2024's Social Media and Smartphone Trends: The Kiplinger Letter
Video-sharing giant, YouTube, dominates as teens' go-to social media outlet.
By John Miley Published