Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Toyota responds to video of Highlander ramming house [w/video]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/18/toyota-responds-to-video-of-highlander-ramming-house-w-video/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/18/toyota-responds-to-video-of-highlander-ramming-house-w-video/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/18/toyota-responds-to-video-of-highlander-ramming-house-w-video/#commentsFiled under: , ,



There are, as they say, two sides to every story, so after we posted a video on Monday showing what an owner claimed to be a case of unintended acceleration causing her Toyota Highlander to crash into a house twice, Toyota reached out to us revealing some additional information about the incident.

Following this crash, which took place back in November, Toyota had this Highlander inspected and pulled data from its Event Data Recorder (EDR), or Black Box as we've come to call it. Not only was this the first time we've seen a claim of unintended acceleration like this caught on video, but now, also a first, we have actual data showing what the vehicle itself recorded during this frightening ordeal.

Brian Lyons, Toyota Communications Manager for Safety and Quality, first gave us some information about the Highlander in question, including the fact that it was a 2012 model. The 2012 Highlander came from the factory with a brake override system, meaning it was not part of the company's initiative in 2010 to add the system to all 2011 models. Also, after looking at the data from the EDR, he said - as many of you pointed out in the comments for the previous post - that the "brake pedal was never touched." In the video, you can see that the crossover's brake lights never come on, and the EDR's data backs this up.

The data pulled from the EDR - posted in the gallery below as two images - shows the two "events," which were recorded each time the vehicle impacted the house. In the first event, the data provided by Toyota shows that 3.6 seconds before the impact, the vehicle began to slow down before speeding up to almost 15 miles per hour as it slammed into the house. In the second event, which resulted in a more violent collision with the house, the Highlander reached speeds of almost 30 mph with the engine racing at 4,400 rpm. In both images, it shows that the brake switch was in the "OFF" position the entire time, indicating that the driver was not attempting to press the brake. We asked Toyota if a faulty brake switch would cause the data to show the brake switch "off" and not allow the brake override to operate properly, and Lyons said no. Plus, there is a hard physical connection from the brake pedal to the brakes themselves, so an electrical fault couldn't have kept them from functioning.

Here's a portion of the letter that Toyota sent to the vehicle's owner after the inspection:

Your vehicle's throttle, accelerator and related components were inspected and found operating as designed, within factory specifications. No binding or obstructions were found in the throttle components. The brake system was also inspected and no problems were found.

The video is reposted below for you to watch. We reached out to the owner of the Highlander for a comment, but have yet to receive a response.

Continue reading Toyota responds to video of Highlander ramming house [w/video]

Toyota responds to video of Highlander ramming house [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 18 Apr 2013 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2012 toyota highlanderblack boxevent data recordertoyotatoyota highlandertoyota unintended acceleratonunintended accelerationvideoThu, 18 Apr 2013 14:29:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20544602/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/04/18/toyota-responds-to-video-of-highlander-ramming-house-w-video/20544602/article-detail.xml 20544602 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/toyota-highlander-crash-video_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/toyota-highlander-crash-video.jpg <![CDATA[Autoblog Podcast #312]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/11/autoblog-podcast-312/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/11/autoblog-podcast-312/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/11/autoblog-podcast-312/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

More Honda Fit models, mandatory black boxes, too many GM pickups, Jeep Grand Cherokee diesel autoblog podcast logo

Episode #312 of the Autoblog Podcast is here, and this week, Dan Roth, Zach Bowman and George Kennedy talk about reports of a soon-to-be-expanding Honda Fit line, the possibility of a mandated and standardized black box for every car, GM's glut of pickups, and the Jeep Grand Cherokee diesel that's coming soon. For those of you who hung with us live on our UStream channel, thanks for taking the time. Keep reading for our Q&A module for you to scroll through and follow along, too. Thanks for listening!

Autoblog Podcast #312:



Topics:

In the Autoblog Garage:
2013 Honda Accord Touring
2013 Nissan Sentra SR
2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo

Hosts: Dan Roth, Zach Bowman, George Kennedy


Runtime: 01:31:41

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Continue reading Autoblog Podcast #312

Autoblog Podcast #312 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 11 Dec 2012 17:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2013 honda accord2013 hyundai veloster turbo2013 nissan sentraaccordautoblog podcastautoblog podcast 312black boxchevroletfeaturedfitgmgmcgrand cherokeehondahyundaijeepnhtsanissanpodcastpodcast 312sentrasierrasilveradovelosterveloster turboTue, 11 Dec 2012 17:31:00 ESTAutoblog Podcast #312Autoblog01:31:41 http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20399996/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/12/11/autoblog-podcast-312/20399996/article-detail.xml 20399996 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/06/podcastlivev2stamp_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/06/podcastlivev2stamp.jpg <![CDATA[Submit your questions for Autoblog Podcast #312 LIVE!]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/10/submit-your-questions-for-autoblog-podcast-312-live/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/10/submit-your-questions-for-autoblog-podcast-312-live/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/10/submit-your-questions-for-autoblog-podcast-312-live/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Autoblog Podcast graphic

We record Autoblog Podcast #312 tonight, and you can drop us your questions and comments regarding the rest of the week's news via our Q&A module below. Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes if you haven't already done so, and if you want to take it all in live, tune in to our UStream (audio only) channel at 10:00 PM Eastern tonight.

Discussion Topics for Autoblog Podcast Episode #312
[RSS] Add the Autoblog Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator

Submit your questions for Autoblog Podcast #312 LIVE! originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 10 Dec 2012 16:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2013 chevrolet silverado2014 honda fit2014 jeep grand cherokeeautoblog podcastautoblog podcast topicsblack boxblack boxesfitgmgmcgrand cherokeehondajeepnhtsa black boxpodcastpodcast topicssierrasilveradoMon, 10 Dec 2012 16:15:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20398216/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/12/10/submit-your-questions-for-autoblog-podcast-312-live/20398216/article-detail.xml 20398216 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/06/podcastlivev2stamp_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/06/podcastlivev2stamp.jpg <![CDATA[White House clears way for NHTSA to mandate vehicle black boxes]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/07/white-house-clears-way-for-nhtsa-to-mandate-vehicle-black-boxes/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/07/white-house-clears-way-for-nhtsa-to-mandate-vehicle-black-boxes/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/07/white-house-clears-way-for-nhtsa-to-mandate-vehicle-black-boxes/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

automotive black boxAt present, over 90 percent of all new vehicles sold in the United States today are equipped with event data recorders, more commonly known as black boxes. If the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gets its way, that already high figure will swell to a full 100 percent in short order.

Such automotive black boxes have been in existence since the 1990s, and all current Ford, General Motors, Mazda and Toyota vehicles are so equipped. NHTSA has been attempting to make these data recorders mandatory for automakers, and according to The Detroit News, the White House Office of Management Budget has just finished reviewing the proposal, clearing the way. Now NHTSA is expected to draft new legislation to make the boxes a requirement.

One problem with current black boxes is that there's no set of standards for automakers to follow when creating what bits of data are recorded, and for how long or in what format it is stored. In other words, one automaker's box is probably not compatible with its competitors.

Expect all these issues to be worked out "in the coming months," according to NHTSA spokeswoman Lynda Tran.

White House clears way for NHTSA to mandate vehicle black boxes originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 07 Dec 2012 10:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>black boxblack boxesevent data recorderfordgmmazdatoyotaFri, 07 Dec 2012 10:16:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20396368/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/12/07/white-house-clears-way-for-nhtsa-to-mandate-vehicle-black-boxes/20396368/article-detail.xml 20396368 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2006/08/286_control1_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2006/08/286_control1.jpg <![CDATA[Seatbelt buckle chime to take a back seat?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/03/seatbelt-buckle-chime-to-take-a-back-seat/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/03/seatbelt-buckle-chime-to-take-a-back-seat/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/03/seatbelt-buckle-chime-to-take-a-back-seat/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Audi TTS rear seat - orange and gray leather

A bill approved by both houses of Congress that doubles fines on vehicles not recalled in a timely fashion also weighs-in on several additional safety measures. What was once a $17-million penalty has now jumped to $35 million. In spite of these fines, The Detroit News reports that many new safety requirements were left out of the bill. One of the few requirements to make it through is the mandate for rear seat belt buckle chime systems - much like the alert system that is currently in the front seats of cars.

Following the Toyota recall of almost 10 million vehicles, many safety groups advocated for major changes in the legislation of vehicle safety. While the vote makes the penalty for recalls worse, it mostly does away with many safety regulations.

Among those regulations would have been rules regarding vehicle stopping distance, pushbutton start systems, pedal placement, and even mandatory vehicle event data recorder (A.K.A. black box) institution.

But traffic deaths have fallen to their lowest point in over 60 years and public attention has waned since the Toyota recall. Lobbyists have pushed to block new safety proposals in light of the lack of public outcry.

So while many of the proposed safety measures never made it through the vote, it appears the rear seat warning chime, as well as new bus safety regulations, will carry the day.

Seatbelt buckle chime to take a back seat? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 03 Aug 2012 10:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auto safetyblack boxcar safetypushbutton startrecallregulationssafetyseat beltseat belt chimeseatbetlsvehicle data recorderFri, 03 Aug 2012 10:45:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20292018/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/08/03/seatbelt-buckle-chime-to-take-a-back-seat/20292018/article-detail.xml 20292018 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/08/audi-rear-seat-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/08/audi-rear-seat-628.jpg <![CDATA[Scottish police call for cars with mandatory cruise control]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/07/09/scottish-police-call-for-cars-with-mandatory-cruise-control/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/07/09/scottish-police-call-for-cars-with-mandatory-cruise-control/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/07/09/scottish-police-call-for-cars-with-mandatory-cruise-control/#commentsFiled under: , ,



The Association of Scottish Police Superintendents (ASPS) is asking the government to help them slow down drivers. Despite Scotland recording its lowest traffic fatalities since they began keeping track of the statistic, Transport Minister Keith Brown says, "... one death on our roads is one too many as far as I am concerned."

According to The Scotsman, officers have asked the Scottish Parliament to push manufacturers to make cruise control standard equipment.

"For people like salesmen, if all cars had cruise control, it would be easier to drive within limits," says Chief Superintendent David O'Connor. O'Connor isn't just talking about freeway speed limits, either - he envisions motorists using speed limiters in school zones and such, too.

O'Connor goes even further, and says he would ideally like to see all cars fitted with black boxes to record driver behavior. The device, he argues, would be most beneficial among drivers under 25.

The Scottish government is already experimenting with the black box idea on business cars of drivers under 25. To implement the idea nationally, though, would reportedly require changes to European Union laws, something the Scottish Parliament has no control over.

Scottish police call for cars with mandatory cruise control originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 09 Jul 2012 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>black boxcruise controlDavid O'Connordavid oconnorkeith brownmandatory+cruise+control+scotlandmandatorycruisecontrolscotlandscotlandscotland driversscotland+cruise+control+lawscotlandcruisecontrollawscottish parliamentscottish policeyoung driversMon, 09 Jul 2012 17:30:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20274226/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/07/09/scottish-police-call-for-cars-with-mandatory-cruise-control/20274226/article-detail.xml 20274226 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/07/scottish-police-car-passing-downed-sign_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/07/scottish-police-car-passing-downed-sign.jpg <![CDATA[Judge cautions jurors over Toyota conduct in sudden acceleration case]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/01/judge-cautions-jurors-over-toyota-conduct-in-sudden-acceleration/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/01/judge-cautions-jurors-over-toyota-conduct-in-sudden-acceleration/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/01/judge-cautions-jurors-over-toyota-conduct-in-sudden-acceleration/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Toyota Emblem

Judge James V. Selna has warned jurors in a wrongful death suit about suspicions surrounding Toyota. According to Inside Line, the warning comes tied to the automaker's conduct during an investigation of a 2008 Camry involved in a fatal crash allegedly caused by unintended acceleration. The single-car accident in Utah claimed the lives of the driver, Pual van Alfen, as well as one other passenger. Two passengers were also injured in the event on November 5, 2010. According to the report, two weeks later, Toyota inspected the sedan without the owner's presence or consent, including the onboard black box. Judge Selena cautioned jurors that they should treat the testimony of Toyota personnel who participated in the investigation with "greater caution than that of other witnesses."

Plaintiffs argued that without their own lawyers present during the inspection, data from the Event Data Recorder could have been changed or deleted entirely. The Judge said that while there was no evidence that Toyota did so, the fact that the automaker failed to notify the owner of the inspection casts a "cloud of suspicion" over the examination.

Judge cautions jurors over Toyota conduct in sudden acceleration case originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 01 Jun 2012 17:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2008 toyota camryblack boxcamryevent data recorderjames selnajudge james selnasudden accelerationtoyota camrytoyota safetytoyota unintended accelerationunintended accelerationFri, 01 Jun 2012 17:59:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20249347/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/06/01/judge-cautions-jurors-over-toyota-conduct-in-sudden-acceleration/20249347/article-detail.xml 20249347 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/06/toyota-emblem-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/06/toyota-emblem-628.jpg <![CDATA[Toyota working on Playstation-compatible track day black box for Scion FR-S]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/31/toyota-working-on-playstation-compatible-track-day-black-box-for/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/31/toyota-working-on-playstation-compatible-track-day-black-box-for/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/31/toyota-working-on-playstation-compatible-track-day-black-box-for/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Scion FR-S

Autocar reports Toyota and Subaru are working on ways to sharpen the GT 86, BRZ and Scion FR-S triplets. While that may mean buyers could see a convertible version of the sports coupe as soon as 2014, engineers are also working on a variety of other improvements, including a new track telemetry system. Using an onboard black box, the gadgetry will record a slew of data from track days. That's nothing new, but the cool part is buyers will then be able to upload and compare their times with other FR-S owners via Sony PlayStation. The report says Toyota is currently working to map major tracks around the world.

There's no word on when the kit will debut, but according to the report, buyers of early models will be able to retrofit their cars with the telemetry system with relative ease. In addition, multiple online tutorials and demonstrations will be available for various tracks.

Toyota working on Playstation-compatible track day black box for Scion FR-S originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 31 May 2012 15:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>black boxbrzfr-sfrsgt86playstationplaystation 3playstation networkps3scion fr-ssony playstationsubaru brztelematicstelemetrytelemetry systemtoyota gt 86Thu, 31 May 2012 15:46:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20248764/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/05/31/toyota-working-on-playstation-compatible-track-day-black-box-for/20248764/article-detail.xml 20248764 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/scion-fr-s-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/scion-fr-s-628.jpg <![CDATA[Senate committee passes overhaul of auto safety laws, includes hefty recall fines]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/15/senate-committee-passes-overhaul-of-auto-safety-laws-includes-h/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/15/senate-committee-passes-overhaul-of-auto-safety-laws-includes-h/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/15/senate-committee-passes-overhaul-of-auto-safety-laws-includes-h/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Driving up Capitol Hill

Congress is gearing up for a comprehensive overhaul of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, implementing some significant safety measures for automobiles along the way. The campaign, encouraged by safety advocates for over a year now, has gained significant ground as the Senate Commerce Committee endorsed a series of measures which it will seek to incorporate into a highway reauthorization bill due for approval early in the new year.

According to The Detroit News, measures approved by the committee include significantly stiffer fines for automakers delaying necessary recalls. Currently the maximum fine that can be imposed in such instances is $17.35 million, but the new regulations would up that to a whopping $250 million. Naturally, many automakers are opposing this particular measure, but they are, however, backing an additional regulation that would equip all new vehicles with 'black box' data recorders.

Automakers aren't the only ones targeted by the new measures, however, as the new regulations would also increase fines for using electronic devices (like mobile phones) while behind the wheel, and up the penalty tenfold for fraudulently rolling back a car's odometer.

The bill, sponsored by two Democrat senators, would take at least a year to be put into effect should it be voted into law.

Senate committee passes overhaul of auto safety laws, includes hefty recall fines originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 15 Dec 2011 16:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>black boxcommerce committeecongressdata recordernational highway traffic safety administrationnhtsarecallrecall finerecallssenatesenate commerce committeeThu, 15 Dec 2011 16:19:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20128803/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/12/15/senate-committee-passes-overhaul-of-auto-safety-laws-includes-h/20128803/article-detail.xml 20128803 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/12/driving-capitol_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/12/driving-capitol.jpg <![CDATA[Cost to insure a new UK driver? Nearly $10,000/year]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/25/cost-to-insure-a-new-uk-driver-nearly-10-000-year/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/25/cost-to-insure-a-new-uk-driver-nearly-10-000-year/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/25/cost-to-insure-a-new-uk-driver-nearly-10-000-year/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

L Plate on a Suzuki Samurai

According to The Daily Telegraph, young drivers in Britain can pay as much as £546 per month for auto insurance. That's around $890/month at current conversion rates. The report indicates that UK drivers between the ages of 17 and 22 years old pay an average of £5,957 - around $9,640.

And you thought it was expensive to get car insurance for your child.

Why the steep price tag for UK drivers with Learner's tags? It's no shock to learn that young drivers carry a higher risk of being involved in an accident than their elder counterparts, and as such, insurance companies assign higher premiums to the group. Unfortunately, as a result of these tough insurance prices, it's estimated that as much as 20 percent of UK drivers between the ages of 17 and 22 are driving without any coverage at all.

Additionally, around 41 percent of UK parents are currently insuring their child's vehicle in their name to cut costs. Unfortunately, doing so is illegal, and insurance companies can refuse to cover a claim if they find that parents have been fronting insurance for their young drivers.

So what's the solution? The Daily Telegraph reports that some insurance companies are turning to a black box that measures g-forces from sudden acceleration, braking and cornering, as well as the time of day that the vehicle is being driven and its speed to custom-tailor insurance premiums. Similar measures are being undertaken here in the States as well.

Cost to insure a new UK driver? Nearly $10,000/year originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 25 May 2011 16:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auto insuranceblack boxcar insuranceinsuranceteen driversukyoung driversWed, 25 May 2011 16:31:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19948920/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/05/25/cost-to-insure-a-new-uk-driver-nearly-10-000-year/19948920/article-detail.xml 19948920 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/05/l-plate-630_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/05/l-plate-630.jpg <![CDATA[NHTSA expected to mandate black boxes in all cars next month]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/24/nhtsa-expected-to-mandate-black-boxes-in-all-cars-next-month/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/24/nhtsa-expected-to-mandate-black-boxes-in-all-cars-next-month/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/24/nhtsa-expected-to-mandate-black-boxes-in-all-cars-next-month/#commentsFiled under:

electronic data recorderAre you ready for a black box to be installed in your car? The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration apparently is. According to a new report from Wired, NHTSA is expected to rule next month that all new cars will need to carry just such a device.

Now, before you get all "Screw the Gubment!" in the comments, you should know that many modern cars already have black box systems installed - you might have one and not even know it. General Motors, for instance, has been installed the electronic data recorders since the 1990s, on almost all vehicles fitted with airbags.

The concern for most drivers, however, lies with what type of information is captured, and who has access to it. Also, different automakers use different Electronic Data Recorder devices. A black box standard needs to be developed, which would allow for the data retrieved from an EDR to be consistent regardless of the vehicle make it's pulled from.

Some view this mandate as an invasion of motorists' privacy. However, the data recovered from the black box systems can provide crucial insight into crash dynamics. Exactly who's allowed to view that information varies by state, of course, and only 13 states currently have legislation in place regulating the release of EDR data.

What do you think, is this a good idea, or a bad one? Have your say in Comments.

NHTSA expected to mandate black boxes in all cars next month originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 24 May 2011 14:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>black boxblack boxesedrelectronic data recordernational highway traffic safety administrationnhtsaTue, 24 May 2011 14:31:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19948767/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/05/24/nhtsa-expected-to-mandate-black-boxes-in-all-cars-next-month/19948767/article-detail.xml 19948767 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2006/08/286_control1_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2006/08/286_control1.jpg <![CDATA[Report: Toyota admits black box bug can give false speed readings]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/09/14/report-toyota-admits-black-box-bug-can-give-false-speed-reading/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/09/14/report-toyota-admits-black-box-bug-can-give-false-speed-reading/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/09/14/report-toyota-admits-black-box-bug-can-give-false-speed-reading/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Takeshi Uchiyamada, Toyota

Takeshi Uchiyamada, Toyota executive vice president in charge of research and development, has confirmed that a software glitch has caused the company's event data recorder readers to misinterpret speeds during accidents. According to Automotive News, the executive admits that his company had previously underscored the fact that it couldn't say whether or not there was a problem with the black boxes themselves. The software bug in the readers came to light during the manufacturer's investigation into instances of unintended acceleration. Even so, Uchiyamda (above, left) says that there's no reason to doubt the rest of the readings from the EDRs.

Both Toyota and the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration have found that in the majority of runaway vehicle cases, driver error has been to blame, though some incidents were caused by entrapped accelerator pedals.

Despite the problem, Uchiyamada has warned against using the EDR reader defect to discredit all of the data collected by the devices, noting that the glitch has since been remedied and that the rest of the readings accurately recorded.

[Source: Automotive News - sub. req. | Image: Yoshikazu Tsuno/AFP/Getty]

Report: Toyota admits black box bug can give false speed readings originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 14 Sep 2010 10:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>black boxBlack BoxesBlackBoxBlackBoxesEDRevent data recorderEventDataRecorderTakeshi UchiyamadaTakeshiUchiyamadaToyotaUnintended AccelerationUnintendedAccelerationTue, 14 Sep 2010 10:28:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19632704/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/09/14/report-toyota-admits-black-box-bug-can-give-false-speed-reading/19632704/article-detail.xml 19632704 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/09/takeshi-uchiyamada-toyota-getty_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/09/takeshi-uchiyamada-toyota-getty.jpg <![CDATA[Report: Toyota's event data recorders have a history of problems]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/08/20/report-toyotas-event-data-recorders-have-a-history-of-problems/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/08/20/report-toyotas-event-data-recorders-have-a-history-of-problems/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/08/20/report-toyotas-event-data-recorders-have-a-history-of-problems/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Toyota shadow logo with parked Camry

According to a report in The Washington Post, the event data recorders the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration used to investigate claims of unintended acceleration in Toyota vehicles have a history of problems. In one incident, a Toyota pickup that struck a tree in a single car accident was recorded as going 177 mph - far faster than any T100 we've ever seen. A separate reading from the same device put the truck's speed at a more feasible 75 mph. The article even says that Toyota itself has warned about the reliability of data collected from the so-called black boxes by stressing that the recorders were not intended to be used as crash-reconstruction devices. In the recent past, Toyota has already been accused of being 'secretive' about providing access to their black box data.

The EDRs in question apparently also have a history of being inaccurate about more than just speed. In another case, the device onboard recorded that both passengers had their seat belts unbuckled at the time of impact when in reality, one individual was safely buckled in.

Unfortunately, government researchers have little other recourse when it comes to substantiating or refuting claims of runaway Toyota products. NHTSA just recently released a preliminary report saying that over half of the instances in which the vehicles seemed out of control were actually attributable to the driver applying the wrong pedal at the wrong time. The Washington Post has indicated that the unreliability of the EDRs leaves some question as to the validity of those findings. They may have a point. Thanks for the tip, FYI!

[Source: The Washington Post | Image: Justin Sullivan/Getty]

Report: Toyota's event data recorders have a history of problems originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 20 Aug 2010 11:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Black BoxBlack BoxesBlackBoxBlackBoxesEDREvent Data RecorderEventDataRecorderNational Highway Traffic Safety AdministrationNationalHighwayTrafficSafetyAdministrationNHTSAToyotatoyota black boxToyota Black Boxestoyota reliabilitytoyota safetyToyotaBlackBoxToyotaBlackBoxesToyotaReliabilityToyotaSafetyFri, 20 Aug 2010 11:28:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19601751/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/08/20/report-toyotas-event-data-recorders-have-a-history-of-problems/19601751/article-detail.xml 19601751 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/03/gyi0059502379opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/03/gyi0059502379opt.jpg <![CDATA[Report: Intel developing new automotive black box]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/11/report-intel-developing-new-automotive-black-box/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/11/report-intel-developing-new-automotive-black-box/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/11/report-intel-developing-new-automotive-black-box/#commentsFiled under: ,

Big Brother really wants to get into your future vehicle. Intel is currently hard at work on the next generation of vehicle event data recorders, the infamous black boxes that Congress has clamored for since Toyota's unintended acceleration problems dominated headlines earlier this year. According to The New York Times, these new black boxes may do a lot more than just record things like vehicle speed and whether you're wearing your seatbelt. Intel's prototype will incorporate GPS and all of a vehicle's onboard cameras for real-time mapping of the road conditions.

As if that's not intrusive enough, Intel proposes that the EDRs record up to 30 seconds of interior video as well. While this level of information would likely prove helpful in determining who's at fault in an accident, there's the prickly question of who owns that information once it's stored in the vehicle. Does it belong to vehicle manufacturers as it does now? Should the government be able to lay claim to it without a warrant? Will insurance companies be able to use EDR data any way they see fit, or does it belong to the owner of the vehicle? This could get ugly, and it probably will before all's said and done.

[Source: The New York Times]

Report: Intel developing new automotive black box originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 11 Jul 2010 17:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>black boxBlackBoxEDREvent Data RecorderEventDataRecorderIntelIntel Black BoxIntel Black BoxesIntel Event Data RecorderIntelBlackBoxIntelBlackBoxesIntelEventDataRecorderSun, 11 Jul 2010 17:35:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19548109/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/07/11/report-intel-developing-new-automotive-black-box/19548109/article-detail.xml 19548109 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/07/intel-logo-250_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/07/intel-logo-250.jpg <![CDATA[Report: U.S. safety bill could triple cost of automotive black boxes to $5,000]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/31/report-u-s-safety-bill-could-triple-cost-of-automotive-black-b/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/31/report-u-s-safety-bill-could-triple-cost-of-automotive-black-b/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/31/report-u-s-safety-bill-could-triple-cost-of-automotive-black-b/#commentsFiled under: ,

When word first came down that Congress was looking to mandate that all new vehicles to be sold with Event Data Recorders, we knew that the added tech was going to be pricey. According to Automotive News, if legislators have their way, the new automotive black boxes will need to be both fire resistant and waterproof. Add in a significant amount of recording time before and after an accident, and suddenly the price tag per unit could soar up to a lofty $4,000 to $5,000. Currently, the EDRs track about five seconds worth of information just before an accident, though some legislators are pushing for up to 75 seconds of recording pre-crash. Between the fire insulation and added recording time, analysts believe the devices will swell to shoebox size, also creating a new packaging issue for automakers.

And who's going to be shelling out the cash for the indestructible, mammoth recorders? The short answer is the automakers, though you can bet they won't just be soaking up the cost out of the goodness of their hearts. Odds are that $4,000-per-box price tag will be passed right along to consumers if such devices become law, so don't be surprised to see sticker prices climb if the boxes become mandatory in 2015.

[Source: Automotive News - sub. req.]

Report: U.S. safety bill could triple cost of automotive black boxes to $5,000 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 31 May 2010 18:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auto safetyAutoSafetyblack boxBlack Box LegislationBlack BoxesBlackBoxBlackBoxesBlackBoxLegislationcar safetyCarSafetyCongresscrash analysisCrashAnalysisEDREvent Data RecorderEventDataRecorderLegislationNHTSAMon, 31 May 2010 18:41:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19497530/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/05/31/report-u-s-safety-bill-could-triple-cost-of-automotive-black-b/19497530/article-detail.xml 19497530 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/05/black-box-250_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/05/black-box-250.jpg <![CDATA[<i>USA Today</i> investigates how automotive 'black boxes' can help recreate accidents]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/30/usa-today-investigates-how-automotive-black-boxes-can-h/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/30/usa-today-investigates-how-automotive-black-boxes-can-h/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/30/usa-today-investigates-how-automotive-black-boxes-can-h/#commentsFiled under: ,



Long before shows like CSI misled the public about how long a DNA test takes and introduced the mythical world of "zoom and enhance," airplane black boxes were making people think you could minutely recreate an air disaster if you could just get the box. Not so. Turns out that quite a few cars sold in the U.S. have black boxes as well, with the same limitations: you can retrieve a certain set of data from them, but its quality and usefulness varies.

Toyota has been phasing black boxes into its cars since 2001, but stresses that the data collected is for "general safety research, not accident reconstruction." The data collected comes from several collection points like the acceleration and airbag modules. While it can help solve a case like the one of the zooming Prius in New York, where the woman was actually pressing the accelerator and not the brake, in other cases it won't prove effective, such as when the data being gathered is from the same corrupt source that's part of the problem.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has laid out some uniform regulations to cover black boxes from 2012. Just about every automaker selling cars here uses them, but they collect different data and an owner's access to that data differs across the country. Carmakers are generally in agreement with the new regs, but want to push the date back a year to fall in line with vehicle development timelines. The bigger issue, though, isn't what a black box is going to record, but what it will do with those recordings, who can get to them, and how easily.

[Source: USA Today]

USA Today investigates how automotive 'black boxes' can help recreate accidents originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 30 Mar 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>black boxblack box legislationBlack Box Recorderblack boxesBlackBoxBlackBoxesBlackBoxLegislationBlackBoxRecorderedrEvent Data RecorderEventDataRecorderNational Highway Traffic Safety AdministrationNationalHighwayTrafficSafetyAdministrationNHTSAtoyotatoyota black boxToyotaBlackBoxTue, 30 Mar 2010 13:00:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19417759/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/03/30/usa-today-investigates-how-automotive-black-boxes-can-h/19417759/article-detail.xml 19417759 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/03/toyotaedrnhtsa_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/03/toyotaedrnhtsa.jpg <![CDATA[Report: Toyota 'secretive' about black box data]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/05/report-toyota-secretive-about-black-box-data/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/05/report-toyota-secretive-about-black-box-data/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/05/report-toyota-secretive-about-black-box-data/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Due to the ongoing NHTSA investigation and several lawsuits involving Toyota, the automaker's in-car "black box" data is coming into the spotlight. However, the Associated Press has conducted an investigation of its own, finding that Toyota has, for years, blocked access to event data recorder (EDR) information, and that the automaker has been inconsistent in revealing exactly what these devices do and do not record.

In this investigation, AP found that Toyota has frequently refused to provide information crucial to crash victims and survivors, and that in some lawsuits, the automaker has routinely provided printouts with key information missing. What's more (this much we knew already), AP reports that Toyota's EDRs use proprietary software (meaning it can only be read by Toyota), and that until just recently, there was only one computer in the entire United States that contained the software needed to rear EDR data.

In a statement to AP, Toyota outlined exactly what information its EDRs collect, including vehicle speed, gear shift position, angle of the driver's seat, whether the seat belt was used, and the accelerator and brake pedals' angles. In the coming months, we'd expect that Toyota starts to make more of this information readily available, especially with its committed cooperation to ongoing safety investigations.

[Source: The Associated Press via Yahoo | Image: Justin Sullivan/Getty]

Report: Toyota 'secretive' about black box data originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 05 Mar 2010 13:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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As of today, when incidents like sudden acceleration happen, it's extremely difficult to diagnose conclusively what the cause was. Without a mechanism to track exactly what the driver did, what the vehicle sensors detected and how the vehicle responded, it usually ends up being a he said/she said situation.

Thus, in the wake of recent allegations of unintended acceleration in Toyota vehicles, a movement has begun to equip all cars with black box data recorders.
Representative Gene Green (D-TX) has already introduced legislation that would mandate the installation of such event data recorders, or black boxes, in all new vehicles.

General Motors has now come out publicly in favor of the proposal. GM has been installing event data recorders in its cars since 1995 as part of the air bag system. In accidents where the airbags are triggered, GM can use the data stored in the EDR for diagnostic purposes to improve the function of its safety systems. The recorders save the last few seconds of data before a crash from a number of sensors. GM is not only supporting the installation of these recorders in all vehicles, but also supports making the data accessible so that accident causes can be more accurately determined.

[Source: General Motors]

Continue reading GM comes out in support of black box legislation

GM comes out in support of black box legislation originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 01 Mar 2010 09:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>black boxblack box legislationblack boxesBlackBoxBlackBoxesBlackBoxLegislationEDREvent Data Recorderevent data recoveryEventDataRecorderEventDataRecoverygeneral motorsGeneralMotorsMon, 01 Mar 2010 09:29:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19377085/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/03/01/gm-comes-out-in-support-of-black-box-legislation/19377085/article-detail.xml 19377085 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2006/08/286_control1_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2006/08/286_control1.jpg <![CDATA[Florida man cancels Nissan GT-R order due to 'black box']]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/24/florida-man-cancels-nissan-gt-r-order-due-to-black-box/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/24/florida-man-cancels-nissan-gt-r-order-due-to-black-box/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/24/florida-man-cancels-nissan-gt-r-order-due-to-black-box/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Click above for high-res gallery of the 2009 Nissan GT-R

A Florida man named Scott Weires has canceled the order for his long-awaited Nissan GT-R. Why? It's not that he was disappointed in the car's performance credentials, far from it. The problem is that the GT-R is equipped with a 'black box', similar in theory to the kind found on airplanes to help determine what went wrong in case of an accident or breakdown. By the end of 2012, car buyers won't have a choice as to whether their new car is equipped with a 'black box,' or Electronic Data Recorder -- they will be federally mandated to carry one. These devices track information that could be useful to the manufacturer in determining exactly what is, or has been, going on with a car. There are a few worries, though, that warranty claims could be denied if the automaker, Nissan in this case, deems that the car was being raced or abused in some way or by police or lawyers to determine culpability. Nissan's GT-R carries an on-board recorder that keeps track of the past few day's worth of driving and cannot be disabled. In the case of Scott Weires, an attorney no less, that was enough to look elsewhere. Would it be for you?

Gallery: Review: 2009 Nissan GT-R


[Source: AutoWeek]

Florida man cancels Nissan GT-R order due to 'black box' originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 24 Sep 2008 15:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>black boxBlackBoxdata recorderDataRecorderedrelectronic data recorderElectronicDataRecordernissan gt-rNissanGt-rvehicle status data recorderVehicleStatusDataRecordervsdrWed, 24 Sep 2008 15:58:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/1323365/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2008/09/24/florida-man-cancels-nissan-gt-r-order-due-to-black-box/1323365/article-detail.xml 1323365 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/07/nissanskylinegtr_abg_10_optb_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/07/nissanskylinegtr_abg_10_optb.jpg <![CDATA[Automotive black boxes evolve]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/01/03/automotive-black-boxes-evolve/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/01/03/automotive-black-boxes-evolve/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/01/03/automotive-black-boxes-evolve/#commentsFiled under: , ,

RoadboxFor now, if your car has a black box it's probably recording your speed, skids, steering wheel and pedal input and how many of your radio's presets are disco (not really). But PLK, a subsidiary of Hyundai, wants to offer you (or more likely your boss) a more talented black box. Their Roadscope device records all the above except for the bad radio, but adds lane departure warning and will take photos seconds before, after and during an accident. While it will be a big hit with fleet owners and rental agencies, priced under $300 the Roadscope could find its way into personal vehicles. Photo evidence could be a huge boost (or bust) during an accident trial.

PLK's Roadbox takes the recording feature even further, with wide-angle video recording of accident events.

It's such a good thing these things weren't around when we were in high school. Bald tires on Dad's Chevelle were enough evidence to convict us of school parking lot burnouts and donuts. But video footage just might have had another judge convicting us.

A shot of the Roadscope and a sample of its video after the jump.

[Source: Motor Authority]

Continue reading Automotive black boxes evolve

Automotive black boxes evolve originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 03 Jan 2007 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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