Automotive "Black Box" Coming in 2014

Chris / Oz,

I'll toss out a couple reason why I think people might be concerned (yall feel free to chime in if I've missed your point).

I'm not taking sides on this topic...

1.) Can one really be free if your actions are being tracked?
2.) Where will it end?
3.) Many people interpret the Constitution & Bill of Rights as a document to limit the scope of government. With continuous and ever expanding government programs having a "black box" follow a persom is representative of the ever over reaching government essentially turning us from citizens to subjects.

 

My owners manual indicates that there is an amazing level of this in the 2013 Tacoma already.

 

Yes, I can assure you we already have one. My 2008 Rabbit was overreved and bent a few valves. The dealership was able to tell me that the maximum RPM it hit when I slammed it into 1st at 55mph was over 9500rpm. It redlines at 6200rpm. Also told them my speed, and time stamp with date and all.

If you think you're free, you're not.

 

dude, accident or what lol^

 

Oh yeah. Actually, while trying to avoid one. Was driving down a wide open road during the day, coming to an intersection where a car in the crosstraffic was NOT stopping at his red. I had the green, and at the same speed I was going, 55mph, he would have t-boned me. So I panicked, revmatched it into what I THOUGHT was 3rd, and instead into 1st gear. Front wheels skidded down to 30mph, and it kept rolling for 12 hours. Then poof...timing chain guide snapped, and you can thank whoever invented interference engines for what happened to my valvetrain.

Luckily, my insurance covered it. All $7500 of it

 

Page 26

Your Toyota is equipped with several sophisticated computers that will record certain data, such as:

-Engine Speed
-Accelerator Status
-Brake Status
-Vehicle Speed
-Shift position (except manual transmission)

The recorded data varies according to the vehicle grade level and options with which it is equipped. Furthermore, these computers do not record conversations, sounds or pictures.

Data Usage

Toyota may use the data recorded in the computers to diagnose malfunctions, conduct research and development, and improve quality.

Toyota will not disclose the recorded data to a third party except:

-With the consent of the vehicle owner or consent of the lessee if the vehicle is leased.
- In response to an official request by the police, a court of law or a government agency.
-For research purposes where the data is not tied to specific vehicles or vehicle owner.

The vehicle is equipped with an event data recorder (EDR). The main purpose of an EDR is to record, in certain crash or near crash-like situations, such as an air bag deployment or hitting a road obstacle, data that will assist in understanding how a vehicle's system performed. The EDR is designed to record data related to vehicle dynamics and safety systems for a short period of time, typically 30 seconds or less.

The EDR in this vehicle is designed to record such data as:

- How various systems in your vehicle were operating;
-Whether or not the driver and passenger safety belts were buckled/fastened;
-How far (if at all) the driver was depressing the accelerator and/or brake pedal; and,
-How fast the vehicle was traveling.

These data can help provide a better understanding of the circumstances in which crashes and injuries occur.

 

The other freaky thing is that I read in there somewhere that the vehicle monitors driver and passenger position and weight.

 

Page 108 -

The system judges a person of adult size as an adult. When a smaller adult sits in the front passenger seat, the system may recognize him/her as a child depending on his or her physique and posture.

 

^^^^exactly what post 28 said, we, as Toyota owners, already have the most advanced BlackBox made!!! Has nothing to do with politics, has to do with common sense, would you like to know the speed of the car that caused an accident, so justice could be served, or would you like lawyers arguing what could have happened? I don't mind if Toyota knows how I drive.

 

Someone will find away around these 'black boxes' as soon as they come out. Just like everything else technology wise these days. Just give it time and it will get hacked.

 

What would these vehicles cost if these sensors/computers weren't in them? $5K or $10K less?

 

Yeah, I agree. Look, if I want to drive fast, I better drive safe. And if I drive fast and cause an accident, I am responsible. That is how it should be.

Now if they started to issue tickets based on annual download of this data that showed you drove 80 mph in a 70 mph zone, then I would think that is wrong.

 

As I said I'm not taking sides on this one....as I've not come to an opinion yet. Though our conversation (and research may sway that).

I remember some time ago LEOs in one of northern midwest states (I believe) were requesting a "snap shot" of personal cell phones when accomplishing a traffic stop regardless of rather an arrest was made or even if a citation was issued. The LEOs have a device that plugged into the phone and read all the data.

I believe some don't see it as too much a leap for "black box" data to be mined (or hell transmitted). If that were the case or even if the data is mined as a result of a wreck (part of its purpose?), has one forfeited at least parts of articals 4 & 5?

 

Well just watched the posted video - it says 96% of all cars sold in US already have one. If that is the case, might as well make it 100% I suppose.

 

:wileyC:

What's next , speed limits ?

 

as soon as they come out ?

 

I hear that the data is owned by the owner so any information is yours and at your discretion, it may be subpenaed if a court wanted to look at it

 

I think some would see the existence of a law different then paying for and owning a device that could "testify" in either direction for its owner.

What next cameras in our homes or....