This is the first and only book written about the United States Department of Transportation / National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (USDOT/NHTSA) final rulemaking for the most important safety counter-measure in vehicle and highway history -- the event data recorder. The author is widely recognized as a leading researcher on vehicle black box technologies. The book provides useful information for motorists, attorneys, public safety advocates, public policy administrators, engineers, automotive professionals, journalists, and insurance executives. BLACK BOXES? Millions of motorists' crash - few realize vehicles record crash data This is the first and only book written which details the final National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) rulemaking for Event Data Recorders (EDRs). It is useful information to anyone who drives or rides in motor vehicles and that includes almost everybody. To date, there have been hundreds of news and magazine articles, and numerous radio and television stories -- but only three books written exclusively about how and why modern-day motor vehicles use on-board EDRs. This book picks up where the other books left off and covers history, research, legislation and regulation. The information needed to understand the technology and to answer motorists' questions and concerns about the widespread use of EDRs are provided, including: . Detailed bibliography and glossary . Examination of the unique legal and privacy issues . List of vehicles that have automatic recording capabilities . Chronological summary of key events . Glossary of Acronyms and Abbreviations My objective is to debunk myths, mystery and misinformation. You many wonder: . Whatis an Event Data Recorder (EDR)? . What is the difference between an EDR and a "black box" common to airplanes? . Why are automakers installing EDRs in modern vehicles? . Why do safety advocates believe we need these emerging technologies? . What do privacy advocates fear about them? . What are the positive and negative perceptions of EDRs to the public? . What types of crash data do EDRs record and for what duration? . Can the EDR record where a vehicle traveled or how fast it was going at any given time? . Under what circumstances will people have access to data? . How do professionals analyze data - what special equipment do they use? . How do EDRs function during pre-crash, crash and post- crash mode? . Under what circumstances can third parties, such as law enforcement or insurance companies, download data from the EDR? . How do third parties, such as insurance companies, collect and manage electronically recorded event data? . Who has access to crash data? . What is the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) regulation for EDRs? . What's in your vehicle? . What recording capability will be in the next new vehicle that you drive -- maybe a rental car? . How is it possible to balance safety and privacy? These are just a few of the important and timely questions affecting every motorist and passenger in the world - including you This is a big deal issue -a matter of life and death for those involved in motor vehicle crashes. The advantages of this technology are numerous, from providing a useful complement to subjective information from victims, eye witnesses, and police reports; improving vehicle and road design; and reducing fraudulent auto insurance claims toassisting medical personnel with on-scene triage of victims. Despite the benefits offered by EDRs, this technology has been plagued by a series of private and public concerns from automotive manufacturers and consumers, including lack of public disclosure by manufacturers regarding the installment of the technology in certain models to issues involving privacy.