DWP

Today's WSJ, page D1, has an article on the increasing use of "black boxes" (a/k/a "event data recorders" or "sensing and diagnostic modules") in new cars. Does anyone know if the W211 has a "black box" that records data like speed, brake application and seat belt use, and, if so, just what kind of data is stored in it, and for what time period?

The article also mentions a new California law (Vehicle Code § 9951, http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/di...file=9950-9953 ) that restricts the disclosure of "black box" data without the consent of the registered owner. The restrictions don't apply to subscription services like TeleAid that receive location and accident information.

SUNILP

It records lots of stuff. Including everything you listed. Also, even if a single connector is disconnected in the car, it is recorded as a fault.

nyca

this is the next "big thing" coming from the NTSB. and the lawyers and the insurance companies can't wait. they will be able to micro-analyze the driving activities of your car in the time leading up to and into an accident - and use the information to sue you, or arrest you.

F1Fan

I do recall hearing that MB would send their engineers out to crash sites involving their cars within a 100 mile (or kilometer) of their factory in Germany. This was several years ago and their greatest fear was that the local authorities would use their findings to decide whether to press charges against the driver or not. Some drivers would falsely claim they were not at fault when the evidence would suggest otherwise. I think the whole purpose was to improve the crash survivabilities of their cars without the legal stuff getting in the way.

Rudegar

nyca-put down the Kafka. The trial lawyers will protect us from the big bad govt

DavidNJ

All current airbag systems record the last 5 seconds before impact. Includes speed and I believe brake and throttle position. And states have been getting it interpeted by the manufacturers. And issuing tickets. And arrests. It is already a point of contention.

F1Fan

Just a few years ago when traction control was illegal in Formula 1 cars, teams were suspected of having some form of traction control coded into the software of the ECU. However the governing body, the FIA, had no way of enforcing their policy because apparently some teams would resort to having the ECU flash or erase itself once the racecar had shutoff. Therefore the violating code would disappear without any evidence to suggest otherwise. Perhaps this could be something that could be done to passenger cars as well.

ATS

In F1 it appears Renault is doing something like that now with their starts. A kind of launch control and must be flashing the BIOS as well..

luxury1

Where is it located? Could I access it if I wanted to get to it to take it out?

luxury1

I am seriously interested in this, does anyone know?

DWP

I wouldn't expect to find a single box anywhere in the car solely dedicated to storing incriminating information. If there is a single box that stores information on things like speed, seat belt use and throttle position, removing it would undoubtedly disable the SRS (at a minimum) and maybe even disable the car entirely. That's offered with the benefit of my general ignorance on the subject; if there are any "black box" experts here they haven't chimed in.