EU considers black boxes for cars
Discussion
Aaarghh! Another weapon for the met no doubt.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4299939.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4299939.stm
BBC News said:
EU considers black boxes for cars
Police hope the technology would allow accurate crash reconstructions
Black box data recorders could be installed in new cars as standard if a Europe-wide study gives them backing.
Police forces across the continent are looking at whether the aircraft-style technology could improve road safety.
The European Commission will use their research to decide if the devices could help in accident investigations.
They are able to record information, including speed and the rate of braking in cars, in the vital seconds leading up to a crash.
It is hoped accident investigators would be able to use the black box information to get a detailed picture of the circumstances surrounding a collision.
Some UK police forces including the Metropolitan Police in London already use the technology in their own cars.
They say it has helped to reduce the number of accidents they have.
The European Commission asked senior police officers across Europe to work on the study looking at the feasibility of installing the devices all new vehicles.
If it is a success, legislation could be passed by ministers in Brussels.
Youth Gone Wild said:
So how does it reduce the number of accidents? It's only recording data not driving the car.
How do you think? It'll log whatever speed you were doing, then electronically fine you, put points on your licence and leave you a little note in the post.
Over time they'll find a way to control cars remotely with it, and then you won't have any control over your car at all and might as well have taken the train.
These guys want to sound the death knell for 'the car' asap as it interferes with their superiority complexes and their prerogative to control as many aspects of life - and ban/tax/discourage/regulate as much potential 'enjoyment' as possible because it interferes with their statistics-led, control-based style of governance.
Kit cars are the way forward surely - you decide exactly what goes in them, so what's this? No black box? No electronic interference? Well, it was too expensive and wouldn't fit next to the V8.
I have this horrible feeling though, that in the future insurance companies will demand their fitment as part of the contract before they insure you
When I got the Porka, the insurance company stipulated that I have a tracker fitted (the anti theft type). They insisted that I have their recommended tracker fitted, but that I pay for it.
This was early days for GPS trackers.
Anyway, they installed the thing (badly) and in the end I had to sort the problems out myself. A bit of re-wiring and the car would reliably start again.
Over time it became apparent that the actual tracker box had a number of design faults, and apparently all of those with my type of tracker were causing false alarms. The way that particular system worked the tracker company paid for all of the telephone calls that their box made. Because of the false alarms the company went under.
Obviously the insurance company had made a discount on the policy for the installation of the tracker. When the company went bust, my insurance policy still had the clause about a tracker on it. Presumably with their recommended company now bust, it was a bit rich to expect me to pay again for another tracker.
In the end I got the discount, without the tracker clause on the policy. I had to make a bit of a fuss. I suppose it goes to show how these companies screw you about. There are gains to be had though.
This was early days for GPS trackers.
Anyway, they installed the thing (badly) and in the end I had to sort the problems out myself. A bit of re-wiring and the car would reliably start again.
Over time it became apparent that the actual tracker box had a number of design faults, and apparently all of those with my type of tracker were causing false alarms. The way that particular system worked the tracker company paid for all of the telephone calls that their box made. Because of the false alarms the company went under.
Obviously the insurance company had made a discount on the policy for the installation of the tracker. When the company went bust, my insurance policy still had the clause about a tracker on it. Presumably with their recommended company now bust, it was a bit rich to expect me to pay again for another tracker.
In the end I got the discount, without the tracker clause on the policy. I had to make a bit of a fuss. I suppose it goes to show how these companies screw you about. There are gains to be had though.
Oh I forgot......
The other problem I had. When they installed the thing it was in a heavy duty steel box. Unfortunately they installed it under the linkage between the brake pedal and the master cylinder.
The nightmare was that you could only push the brake pedal so far, before the linkage got bound up on this poxy tracker.
Some of these auto electricians. I don't know!
The other problem I had. When they installed the thing it was in a heavy duty steel box. Unfortunately they installed it under the linkage between the brake pedal and the master cylinder.
The nightmare was that you could only push the brake pedal so far, before the linkage got bound up on this poxy tracker.
Some of these auto electricians. I don't know!
no no no.. you guys are all too pessimistic. Of course our premiums will drop as the savings made willbe passed down to us.
After an accident the black box data will be downloaded, one car will be at fault but had travelled at .2mph over the speedlimit thus the insurance company voiding payouts, the other completely innocent but the download shows a trend of spending 12.6% of its time above the speedlimit (usually as it enters a 30mph zone and the time spent deccelarating PAST the sign).
So.. obviously no pay out and higher premium for this high risk driver.
There you have it, less time spent by insurance companies sorting claims, less payouts..so lower premiums across the board for all of us..
..or something
After an accident the black box data will be downloaded, one car will be at fault but had travelled at .2mph over the speedlimit thus the insurance company voiding payouts, the other completely innocent but the download shows a trend of spending 12.6% of its time above the speedlimit (usually as it enters a 30mph zone and the time spent deccelarating PAST the sign).
So.. obviously no pay out and higher premium for this high risk driver.
There you have it, less time spent by insurance companies sorting claims, less payouts..so lower premiums across the board for all of us..
..or something
Sometimes I seriously wonder why I still live in this country (or Europe) at all.
Now, I'm looking at buying a house, I think I might p*ss off somewhere else. The negatives seem to outweigh the positives more every day.
I can see the point of this being able to aid accident investigators, but I suspect that this will be the thin end of the wedge, and eventually more devious (wallet lightening) uses will be found.
Now, I'm looking at buying a house, I think I might p*ss off somewhere else. The negatives seem to outweigh the positives more every day.
I can see the point of this being able to aid accident investigators, but I suspect that this will be the thin end of the wedge, and eventually more devious (wallet lightening) uses will be found.
I very much doubt you'd be able to disconnect such a device from a new car, it would be integrated very thoroughly into the car's electronic brain.
Even if it was used for insurance purposes, they would still pay out. Breaking the law doesn't automatically invalidate your insurance does it? Unless you're cabbing or something.
Even if it was used for insurance purposes, they would still pay out. Breaking the law doesn't automatically invalidate your insurance does it? Unless you're cabbing or something.
I can see the day coming when you have a black box to grass you up, but only for the purposes of tax collection.
They will never put anything on a car that will reduce the amount of money they get out of the motorist.
Who the f
k else would cough up the shortfall - EU breathing tax anyone?
What a load of boll ox all this EU sh1t is.
They will never put anything on a car that will reduce the amount of money they get out of the motorist.
Who the f
k else would cough up the shortfall - EU breathing tax anyone? What a load of boll ox all this EU sh1t is.
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