Devrbd

I was just reading an article about "black boxes" or data recorders in many late model cars. They are kind of like the "black boxes" on airplanes and they record speed, distance travelled and other various habits of the driver. Obviously, they're good for determining fault in accidents, but very bad if the insurance company wants to take a look at it to determine premiums (unless you are a perfect law abiding driver). Anyone know if they are installed in the Z?

Amnbex

These boxes can't be used by anyone except the police in the case of an accident. The insurance companies do not "scan" them periodically to calculate your premiums or anything of that nature.

Just FYI before we get a "the guys in black helicopters are after me" post in this thread.

NorCal350

But they really really are!!

Netko350Z

iTrader: (8)

From what I gather it only replays/stores 2-3 seconds before a crash.

Amnbex

NorCal350, it's Daytona Blue, not Datona.

Sorry, nitpicking!

Carry on.

Devrbd

The article did mention that insurance companies in this country can not use the information recorded. However, a few countries in Europe are using it for insurance purposes. I believed they called it PAYD (Pay As You Drive) and insurance companies in this country are starting to pay some interest in it. Basically, your premium is based on the info recorded in the box. I don't believe Americans would allow it to happen, but traffic cameras happened, so could this. As far as how they work.....I guess it records information for approx 3 second intervals and automatically erases it? Just curious if they were in the Z and I didn't know.

bigdaddy

iTrader: (3)

check out this site for and idea of what is out there...

Link

trust me...insurance companies don't use it unless you get in a wreck.

sean

Santacruzslick

iTrader: (12)

Wouldn't that be an invasion of privacy or something? LOL

bigdaddy

iTrader: (3)

most car companies have taken the position that the owner of the vehicle is the owner of the information contained on the "black box" (which is typically just the airbag control module). now, the owner could be considered to be you, the financing company, the insurance company (if they paid you for the vehicle), etc. the main school of thought behind this being that it is "private" information.

the people on the other side of the fence on this issue (which i happen to be a part of) believe that once you drive your vehicle onto public roads and around strangers, what you are doing is no longer "private". the information is just sitting there on the computer waiting to be downloaded and cannot be fudged or erased. the only thing required is the right tool. it is fundamentally no different than someone measuring the wheel base on a wrecked car or looking at the seatbelt to see if you were wearing it during the wreck. it's just another bit of data.

i can promise that insurance companies can't and won't look at these "black boxes" simply to keep and eye on you and raise your rates. now...if you get in a crash, that may be a different story. i cannot, however, promise that car companies might not look at them to deny warranty work or the like.

moral of this story...don't drive like an idiot and break laws, and the information will never burn you. and trust me, you would love to have that info on your side when something happens that isn't your fault.

sean

nbdyfcnsqnc

It is if you don't want it, and I doubt anyone here does. But there's no real moral or legal right to privacy to speak of. Companies won't force it on us because it would hurt sales. But someday the government probably will, when the majority of people are promised things like safer roads and lower insurance bills, even if that's unrealisitic. It's just a matter of time.

Also, they prefer to be called "African American Boxes."

Tusken

from the z owners manual......

Your vehicle is equipped with a variety of computers
that monitor and control a number of
systems to optimize performance and help service
technicians with diagnosis and repair. Depending
on the equipment on your vehicle, some
of the computers monitor emission control systems,
braking systems and air bag systems, just
to name a few. Some data about vehicle operation
may be stored in the computers for use
during servicing. Other data may be stored if a
crash event occurs. For example, air bag readiness,
air bag performance, and seat belt use by
the driver or passenger may be recorded, depending
on vehicle equipment. These types of
systems are sometimes called Event Data Recorders.
Special equipment can be used to access the
electronic data that may be stored in the vehicle’s
computers (sounds are not recorded).
NISSAN and NISSAN dealers have equipment
to access some of this data; others may also
have this equipment. The data may be retrieved
during routine vehicle servicing or for special
research. It might also be accessed with the
consent of the vehicle owner or lessee, in response
to a request by law enforcement, or as
otherwise required or permitted by law.
EVENT DATA RECORDERS
9-24 Technical and consumer information

Devrbd

So my Z is recording everything I do except the sounds from within the cabin. I guess I'd better start wearing my seatbelt. Don't want a letter from Nissan Corporate (amongst the many) or some Nissan Technician giving me a hard time.

So everyone except Nissan have to ask permission to access that info?

touringfiend

You think brother is big enough...then you find out about this crap. Next thing you know all Navi units will feed info to the "black box" stating GPS coordinates. All I can say is that if Google can show me a picture of my house from space, I can’t imagine what is REALLY out there!

rolling

iTrader: (2)

no not YET but that is surley going to change in the future as it is going to rain in Oregon..

Insurance Co's are pushing for anything they can do to raise our rates,
and Big Brother/ police are continous looking for ways to minimize your rights and raise there "fees"