Federal Regulators Say Vehicle Black Boxes Shouldn't Be Required Under Federal Proposal

WASHINGTON June 10, 2004; Dee-Ann Durbin writinf for the AP reported that data recorders that collect information on speed, seat belt use, braking and other factors shouldn't be required in vehicles, federal regulators said Thursday.

Dr. Ricardo Martinez, former administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, was among those pushing the agency to mandate the data recorders, saying they are essential for understanding what happens in a crash.

But NHTSA said automakers are adding black boxes at a fast enough pace on their own. Approximately 15 percent of vehicles now on the road have the data recorders, and NHTSA says between 65 percent and 90 percent of 2004 vehicles have some sort of recording ability.

Under a proposal released Thursday, NHTSA said it wants recorders to collect a standard set of data to help crash investigators. By September 2008, the agency wants recorders to collect up to 42 specific data elements, including the time it takes for air bags to deploy.

NHTSA said the systems that control air bags already capture a great deal of that information, so the cost of standardizing the data will be minimal. Some automakers already have the recorders installed in most vehicles. General Motors Corp. began installing recorders in 1994, while Ford Motor Co. began installing them in 2001.

The proposal also would require manufacturers to include a statement in owners' manuals telling people the data recorders exist. Nearly two-thirds of people surveyed by an insurance industry group didn't know their vehicles had black boxes.

Privacy advocates have urged NHTSA to clarify who owns the data from recorders, since data has been used against drivers in some court cases. But NHTSA sidestepped that issue.

"All that is for courts and legislation to decide," NHTSA spokesman Tim Hurd said.

Martinez, who petitioned the agency to require the recorders in 2001, said he is disappointed they won't be required. Martinez is now the chairman of Safety Intelligence Systems Corp., which develops recording devices.

"The fact of the matter is that there's a crash every five seconds. Every crash that goes by is an opportunity to learn and to make cars better," Martinez said.

But Martinez said the proposal is positive overall since it would require recorders to collect a standard set of data.

Eron Shosteck, a spokesman for the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, said Thursday the group was reviewing the proposal. The industry has supported the installation of recorders in the past, saying they collect valuable information on vehicle performance.

NHTSA will accept comments on the proposal for 60 days and will issue a final rule after that.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov