EU may recommend black box recorders for cars

Date: 29/1/2010

Source: Thinking Highways

Results of the EC funded VERONICA project (Vehicle Event Recording based on Intelligent Crash Assessment), recently published on the VERONICA project website suggest that the EC could recommend the use of “black boxes” in vehicles.

The three year study investigated the feasibility of Event Data Recorders (EDR) to increase safety and responsibility on the roads. The device would record information such as speed, application of brakes, use of the horn and indicators and would monitor safety features specific to each model of vehicle.

The device would be triggered to record by a sudden application of brakes for a duration of 30 seconds before a potential collision and for 10 seconds after. It is anticipated that the information from the EDR would be used to more accurately reconstruct events leading to a collision and inform any subsequent legal action. This, combined with drivers’ awareness of the device being present, should lead to drivers taking fewer risks on the road and therefore becoming safer drivers.

A spokesman for the EU has stated that if the Commission does endorse the findings of the VERONICA project, it will be left up to the individual Member States to choose whether to implement the recommendations.

ITS Radar International will monitor developments in Event Data Recorders

Key words: European Commission, in-vehicle systems, Policy, Safety