Why don't cars have data recorders like large aircraft and locomotives?

How much would such equipment add to the cost of a new car, and would consumers pay it?

There’s no question that we have the capability to make “black boxes” for cars and small trucks. They wouldn’t have to be as rugged as those used for large airplanes because cars don’t slam into solid objects at several hundred miles an hour.

If we did install them, we’d “discover” that the VAST majority of accidents are caused by human error. Hey, don’t we already know that?

The other thing is that such a box ONLY records the car’s data - it doesn’t record any other factor. For instance, it may record the driver swerving all over the road - but it won’t pick up the fact that the driver did so to avoid running over a kid in the street. It will pick up that someone exceeded the speed limit - but not the fact they did so to keep from being hit by someone running a red light. In airplanes, if a pilot bends or breaks a rule in order to avoid an accident he or she is off the hook (specifically, Federal Aviation Regulation Part 91.3.b). No such rule exists for auto drivers - meaning, even if you sped up for a few seconds to avoid being creamed by a runaway SUV you could still be fined for exceeding the speed limit, get points on your license, have your insurance go up, even though you did the correct thing - avoid an accident.

I think on a gut level most folks know this, and resist the idea of black boxes in cars because they’d become a tool for law enforcement. We all make mistakes driving sometimes - do you REALLY want automatic enforcement for every mile over the speed limit, every rolling stop, every other minor infraction of the law? Either a lot of folks will lose their license from too many violations (political dynamite in this country) or everyone’s auto insurance rates will go through the roof (like they aren’t already).

Yes, there ARE people who think auto black boxes are a grand idea and are lobbying to make them mandatory. So far, they are a distinct minority.

To which I will respond with this, from an earlier post:

So no, my idea is to have it looked at only incase of an accident. Not a random stop by Johnny the Sheriff just to scan 'ya, or when you go to your insurance co when you renew.

Besides, as mentioned earlier, I don’t think a much history would be needed, just the past few minutes. There wouldn’t be much information there for pictutre of overall driving habits, but probably enough to expedite and justly settle a questionable accident.