The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has been very busy lately. This federal agency, which has as its mission “to save lives, prevent injuries and reduce traffic-related health care and other economic costs”, has proposed two important rules:
1) Backup cameras in new cars, pickups and vans, and
2) Event Data Recorders in all light passenger vehicles
Backup Cameras
NHTSA estimates that, on average, 292 fatalities and 18,000 injuries occur each year as a result of back-over crashes involving all vehicles. Two particularly vulnerable populations – children and the elderly -– are affected most. NHTSA believes that back-up cameras, which activate when putting the vehicle into reverse, would save lives.
Event Data Recorders
NHTSA is proposing that automakers install event data recorders (EDRs) in all light passenger vehicles beginning September 1, 2014. These “black boxes” would capture valuable safety-related data in the seconds before and during a motor vehicle crash.
A crash or air bag deployment typically triggers the EDR, which collects data in the seconds before and during a crash. The data collected by EDRs can be used to improve highway safety by ensuring NHTSA, other crash investigators and automotive manufacturers understand the dynamics involved in a crash and the performance of safety systems.
Examples of some of the information recorded include:
EDRs do not collect any personal identifying information or record conversations and do not run continuously.
Idea for the future
While not being proposed at this time, the next logical step would be forward facing DVR (video recorders) in the mirror that would record the view of the road ahead during the 20 seconds before a collision. This video, already a presence in many police cars, would answer questions about how and why a collision occurred.
1) Backup cameras in new cars, pickups and vans, and
2) Event Data Recorders in all light passenger vehicles
Backup Cameras
NHTSA estimates that, on average, 292 fatalities and 18,000 injuries occur each year as a result of back-over crashes involving all vehicles. Two particularly vulnerable populations – children and the elderly -– are affected most. NHTSA believes that back-up cameras, which activate when putting the vehicle into reverse, would save lives.
Event Data Recorders
NHTSA is proposing that automakers install event data recorders (EDRs) in all light passenger vehicles beginning September 1, 2014. These “black boxes” would capture valuable safety-related data in the seconds before and during a motor vehicle crash.
A crash or air bag deployment typically triggers the EDR, which collects data in the seconds before and during a crash. The data collected by EDRs can be used to improve highway safety by ensuring NHTSA, other crash investigators and automotive manufacturers understand the dynamics involved in a crash and the performance of safety systems.
Examples of some of the information recorded include:
- vehicle speed
- whether the brake was activated in the moments before a crash;
- crash forces at the moment of impact;
- information about the state of the engine throttle;
- air bag deployment timing and air bag readiness prior to the crash; and
- whether the vehicle occupant's seat belt was buckled.
EDRs do not collect any personal identifying information or record conversations and do not run continuously.
Idea for the future
While not being proposed at this time, the next logical step would be forward facing DVR (video recorders) in the mirror that would record the view of the road ahead during the 20 seconds before a collision. This video, already a presence in many police cars, would answer questions about how and why a collision occurred.
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