Planes are outfitted with special recording devices that help investigators figure out what went wrong in case of an accident. These 'black boxes' are recording devices that record audio from the cockpit as well instrument readings from the plane's controls and sensors. If U.S. regulators get their way, these devices may soon be in modern cars, too.
Wired reports that federal regulators are proposing that new cars sold after September 2014 be fitted with event data recorders that would record speed, number of passengers, seat belt usage, throttle, location, and more. These devices aren't designed to record the goings on inside your car at all times. Instead, they'll kick in for about half a minute if the car detects behaviors conducive to a road accident (such as sudden breaking, swerving or acceleration).
According to Wired, the National Transportation Safety Agency is looking for feedback for mandating that all auto manufacturers install these devices in cars. However, there are also concerns regarding drivers' privacy. The NTSA has yet to fill in the blanks on some very important details. This includes who has access to the recording data and how long the data will be kept for.
The NTSA is accepting comments on the proposal through to February 11. Read all about it and leave your feedback here.
