I was watching the local news tonight and this came up. Just wondering what you guys think about this? Follow the link at the bottom of the first link to see who already has one.

http://www.kmsp.tv/themes/default/ne...ent_id=1502189

Gord, where'* the poll option for "not just no, but HELL no!" :?:

Check again...

LOL

But I already voted

Gotcha covered. I was gonna vote for what you did so I used mine for yours. You follow that? Good...

I think this is actually a good thing with potentially bad side effects. The idea that cars may someday be even safer beacause of data collected makes it worth while. The idea that frivolous lawsuits might be reduced drastically (Yes, the firm I work for represents GM, Ford, Toyota, and others, and you would not believe the stupidity of some people) is a good thing. The idea that you could be accountable for your actions is a good thing for society, but a potentially bad thing for individuals.

As long as the box doesn't prevent anyone from driving the way they want to, and isn't actively narc-ing on anyone, its ok with me.

Ok, now imagine a cop at a 'speed checkpoint' with a scan tool. Able to scan your VSS history for say.....the last 30 minutes?

IRocca, it looks like you have a legal aspect of this in your sights. So I got a question for you. Is the "Black Box" property of the cars owner and can only be used in court at the owners request or is this something that the law can use at it'* discretion? or could the law use it by ways of court supenias (sp?)?

Just a few thoughts they brought up in the live broadcast. Just wondering what everyone thinks.

My girlfriend was once backed into in the parking lot. The driver lied and refused to admit it was their fault. There were no witnesses. As a result, this caused problems with the insurance and made it impossible for her to collect from her insurance company for the repairs.

I would have loved a black box in that guy'* car. Quite frankly I'm tired of and disgusted with members of this society that don't take responsibility for their own actions.

I'd think the rules of procedure would be comparable for searching the vehicle. They'd need probable cause. As for the property rights, you paid for it, you own it. Its a computer, so it wouldn't be any different than them confiscating your PC. Which, by the way, they can do with a warrant.

The point is, if they have reason to believe you've been driving like a raped ape, they'll have reason to scan your data. If you are involved in a serious accident, and someone is killed, it might be evidence. If your insurance totals your car, they can scan it.

Anyway, I'd bet there will be a mod sooner or later that would allow you to wipe the info or encrypt it. Like I said, as long as its passive, its ok with me. But if your car is used as a weapon, or if you sue GM because the seatbelts failed, they should be able to subpoena the data and determine whether they were even buckled.

One lawsuit I know of was based on the premise that GM failed to engineer a safe enough truck. The driver fell asleep and hit a guardrail post, which tore up the entire undercarriage, the truck rolled over down a hill, and the gas ignited, killing one person and seriously maiming the other.

In another, a guy was hot rodding a car he didn't even own, hit a bus, was thrown from the car (T-top camaro, with the hatches removed), landed on his head, and can't move from the waist down due to the ensuing spinal injury. His attorney claimed the seat belts failed, and the t-top crushed his spine. Witnesses said they saw the tops in the back of the car, and that he was driving without belts on.

Consider how much of the price of new cars is due to these types of product liability claims, and the associated cost to defend and/or settle them. Sometimes, the engineers should have made a better decision or two, but most of these suits stem from plaintiff'* attorneys with their eyes on the corporate deep pockets and a cultural desire to avoid bad press.