The constant improvement in car safety has gone a long way to make the result of car accidents less serious. One of the latest tools in improving safety being touted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administrator is the use of automotive black boxes, similar to what is used in airplanes. They would be set to trigger when either a crash or an event occurs that causes the air bag to deploy.

The NHTSA thinks they are such a good idea that they have suggested that the event data records be required in all motor vehicles manufactured, starting in October 2014. While the inclusion of the recorder in the car will not do anything to prevent an accident from occurring, those who work in the field of automobile safety feel strongly that information retrieved from the black boxes could go a long way in the development of new safety features.

There are several things the recorders could obtain. In addition to how fast the vehicle was travelling at the time of the car accident it would also record whether the driver was accelerating or slowing down and the amount of force present when the air bag went off. Also, it could give information on the air bag and report whether the driver had his or her seat belt on when the accident occurred.

While the timing of the request may seem daunting, according to the NHSTA it is not. At this point the agency believes that 91 percent of cars for the 2013 model year are already equipped with the device. A total of 96 percent reportedly have the capability.

Those against the proposed requirement cite privacy as an issue. Though the National Highway Traffic Safety Administrator indicates that the black boxes are not designed to record people not all agree with him. What are your thoughts on this? Do you believe the benefits outweigh the potential downsides?

Source: Detroit News, "NHTSA: Data recorders 'essential' to auto safety," David Shepardson, Dec. 19, 2012