The mandatory black box for cars is a recent measure that promises to revolutionize traffic safety.
This device, known as an event data recorder (EDR), is now a requirement in European Union countries, with the aim of recording crucial data in the event of an accident
With accurate and objective data, it is possible to carry out a more faithful reconstruction of accidents, helping to determine causes and responsibilities.
Find out what this system is and how it works, as well as which vehicles are required to have it.
What is a Black Box In a Car?
The black box in car is an electronic device installed in vehicles that records crucial information about the car’s performance and the driver’s behavior before, during and after an accident.
This device records data such as vehicle speed, airbag activation, impact force, seatbelt use and other essential metrics that can be used for accident analysis.
What is a Black Box for?
The black box in cars is used to improve traffic safety and help investigate accidents. In this way, and with access to the recorded data, it is possible to:
- Reconstructing accidents: as it provides detailed information about the time of the accident, it helps to determine the causes and responsibilities;
- Improving vehicle safety: manufacturers can use the data to identify faults and improve vehicle safety systems;
- Legal support: the information can be used in legal disputes and court cases by providing accurate evidence of the accident.
What data is recorded by the car’s Black Box?
According to Regulation (EU) 2019/2144, the event recording system will record the following data:
- Throttle pressure and engine revolutions per minute;
- Turning angle and angular velocity;
- Speed in the last 5 seconds;
- Use of the brakes;
- Delta V direction (positive or negative acceleration);
- Activation of airbags and seat belts;
- Use of seat belts;
- Number of passengers;
- Variation in vehicle speed after impact;
- Longitudinal acceleration in meters per second squared.
What is the Importance of the Black Box in Traffic Accidents?
The black box is a crucial tool in the analysis and investigation of traffic accidents, as it provides an accurate picture of the accident.
Using the data recorded, it will be possible to determine the speed at which the vehicle was traveling at the time of the accident. It will also make it possible to find out whether the driver was wearing a seatbelt, whether there was sudden braking, among other variables.
What Are the Benefits of Using Black Boxes in Cars?
Generally speaking, the benefits of having a black box are:
1. Improving Road Safety
By having this system, drivers adopt defensive driving, as they know that their actions are being recorded.
This reduces risky behavior and ensures compliance with traffic regulations.
2. Analyze Accidents
By recording data about the accident, the event recording system enables an analysis of its causes.
As a result, there are improvements in the design and manufacture of vehicles, as well as in the formulation of safety policies.
3. Legal Dispute Resolution
In the case of legal or insurance disputes, black box data can be used as evidence to determine liability for the accident.
In this way, it is possible to speed up resolution and guarantee the distribution of compensation.
Is It Good To Have A Black Box In Your Car?
It’s good for cars to have a black box, as it allows them to be reconstructed in the event of a road accident, making it possible to identify liability more accurately. The main reason for this measure is to reduce accidents in the European Union.
Is a Black Box Mandatory in All Cars?
This measure, approved in Brussels in July 2022, came into force in July 2024.
As a result, all new cars coming onto the market from July 2024 must have a black box.
If new cars coming onto the market do not meet the technical requirements of the black box, they will not be able to be registered or sold.
Why Has the Black Box in Cars Become Mandatory?
Improving road safety is one of the main objectives of the European Union, which seeks to regulate road safety issues. In this sense, the compulsory black box on cars has come in an attempt to change drivers’ behavior on the road.
On the other hand, the implementation of this measure aims to analyze accidents more concretely in order to make informed and objective decisions.
Who Will Have Access to the Data Recorded by the Black Box?
The violation of privacy is an issue that has raised many reservations, especially with regard to access to the records made by the event recording system.
Contrary to what many people think, the purpose of this system is not to record conversations taking place inside the car. The main aim is to carry out road safety analyses and evaluate the effectiveness of the specific measures adopted.
To this end, the system will operate in a closed circuit, protected against data manipulation. In addition, the records will be anonymous, allowing only the type, model and version of each vehicle to be identified.
As such, only national authorities will be able to access it for the purposes of investigating and analyzing accidents and verifying the approval of systems and components.
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