Important News from Your Texas Accident Lawyer
U.S. Government to Require Standardized Black Boxes in New Cars as of 2013
Posted on Aug 07, 2011
The U.S. DOT and NHTSA announced that October 2011 would see final regulations issued regarding a proposed mandate for black boxes in new cars. The government published proposed black box data rules in 49 CFR Part 563. The rules address government concerns regarding a lack of uniform black box data practices among automakers.
Great variety exists among the types and extent of data collected by the differing manufacturers' different types of black boxes. Some automakers (like Audi and Mercedes) have shied away altogether from placing the black boxes in new cars. Other manufacturers use proprietary black box data technologies. Only these automakers or their authorized dealers can download the data from these proprietary black boxes, and then only using their own proprietary tools. (Your Galveston, TX personal injury lawyer can't extract this data for you without the automaker's help.)
We expect the U.S. government mandate to require:
Standardized black boxes in new cars as of the 2013 model year
That all record the same types of black box data in the same format
Readily available commercial tools to download and read the black box data
The mandate has raised privacy concerns across the board among those who fear that the government has overreached itself with yet another intrusion into individual privacy rights. Texas somewhat limits this potential intrusion by requiring owner permission before black box data can be downloaded from your car. If you experience a car accident, you may receive requests to download the black box data. We suggest that you withhold your permission until you have consulted with an attorney. Obtain the sound advice of a Galveston, TX personal injury lawyer before letting anyone download your car's black box data. It's your data, and there are times when it's wiser to just keep your data safely tucked away in its box.
Galveston, TX Personal Injury Lawyer