Automakers Argue Against U.S. "Black Box" Federal Safety Rule

Washington DC October 30, 2006; The AIADA newsletter reported that a new federal rule to standardize minimum requirements for "black boxes" in vehicles has caused protests from all automakers, who say the rule is too vague and will cost too much to implement.

The final ruling from NHTSA reduced the number of data elements required in the "black box" from 18 to 15; and data recorders must be able to record two events in very serious crashes, rather than three; and required data to be retrievable for 10 days instead of 30, reports The Detroit News.

Automakers argue that roughly 11 types of data required to be collected in the ruling can be inaccurate in current recorders and may not be able to comply without installing more expensive sensors, as the rule requires a closer margin of error than current sensors allow.

A NHTSA spokesman said last week that the agency will respond to the requests to revise the ruling, but did not say when. If NHTSA denies the automakers' request, they can ask a judge to block the rule from being implemented.