If VSDRs are already showing up in cars, when will the technology record sound and imagery to the black box? Ten? Fifteen? Twenty years? Will advanced black box systems be linked to GPS systems so that police officers and insurance companies can monitor and cite drivers without actually being near them? All of these issues are buzzing around the black box debate, and the question being asked is where will consumers draw the line? As of now, some manufacturers permit law enforcement and government investigators to access the EDR data while others limit EDR access to their own company. There have even been insurance claims and lawsuits solely based on data from the EDR system: In one case, Joe was hit by Tom and Joe was put in a coma for six months. In court, the EDR system revealed that Tom had been violating the speed limit by 3 mph at the time of the crash; Joe won the $10 million lawsuit.
When advanced EDR systems begin interfering with warranties and insurance claims, it seems that they often create a win-lose situation for the owner of the car. The Nissan GT-R is more than willing to pin its driver to the seatback or extract life from a curvaceous road, but the VSDR system acts as a mental leash, threatening "recording" of an act otherwise ignored by the car itself. If the interest of safety is truly paramount, perhaps manufacturers should integrate this system on tester vehicles only. As of now, German and Korean companies have refused to place these systems in their cars. Rob Moran, a representative for industry-leader Mercedes-Benz, said, "We have not viewed that feature as necessary or beneficial for the brand or our customers." If you too do not want Big Brother spying on you, my advice is to restore your favorite classic or buy the nicest 2012 Mercedes you can find and drive it for life, because sometimes driving is about those special moments between car and driver that no one should be capable of monitoring.
Spring Break
