Interesting article about the black boxes that are in cars and the data that’s stored in them.
“Whenever an airplane crashes, investigators focus on the black-box data, which may explain why the plane went down. Though most drivers don’t realize it, two thirds of new U.S. automobiles have black boxes, too. They’re called “event data recorders.” These devices tell the airbags when to deploy, but they also record the car’s speed, whether the brake or gas pedal was engaged, and if seat belts were fastened. They’ve become such a vital tool to car-crash investigators that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued new requirements, which take effect in 2012, standardizing exactly what data the devices measure.”