Car black boxes may help crash investigations

Establishing the facts after a traffic collision, such as the one on Bride’s Pool Road, especially if there are no witnesses, skid marks or film, can be difficult. However, most modern cars come with an installed black box called an event data recorder (EDR).

The US has proposed broader use of EDRs to help improve vehicle safety, while the European Union is now looking at legislation concerning the EDR and access to the data within.

The EDR records the driver’s handling of the vehicle and should a collision occur, the EDR will save the data recorded five to eight seconds before and after the collision.

This data will show how the driver and vehicle responded to the collision, including speed, percentage the accelerator or brake was depressed, the percentage the steering wheel was turned, when the airbag was released or seat belt pre-tensioners deployed.

Car manufacturers use this data to fight lawsuits and enhance vehicle safety. American police in some states make great use of such data when investigating traffic collisions.

The Hong Kong Traffic Police should also be using this treasure trove of collision data captured in EDRs during their investigations. The lessons learned can enhance road safety and provide clarity to an investigation, while prosecutors and defence lawyers should be assessing the EDR’s data, which could save valuable time at court.

To enhance road safety the Transport Department must legislate EDR to be mandatory in all vehicles sold in Hong Kong, specify the data to be recorded and include that the police have access to the EDR’s data while investigating traffic collisions.

Your car is recording how you drive.