THE FACTS:
- You purchase a new automobile;
- The car has installed in it an Event Data Recorder (EDR);
- The sales representative never tells you about this device;
- An EDR records the vehicle’s dynamic, time-series data during the time period just prior to or during a crash event;
- You are involved in an accident;
- Who can access the EDR data?
THE RESULT:
- Many drivers are unaware that EDR, also known as black boxes, are in their cars;
- Proposed laws may required EDR in all new vehicles;
- EDR can record 15 discrete variables in the seconds before a crash;
- Proposed laws struggle with who has a right to access this information;
- Do you have a right to deny access to the information on your EDR;
- Can you get information from an EDR in a vehicle that hits your vehicle;
- Issues on EDR data and privacy issues are complicated.
THE BOTTOM LINE:
- EDR and their use can have significant impacts on your rights.