White House wants Black Boxes in all future cars

Paul A. Eisenstein
The White House gave its OK on a plan, which would all future cars and trucks be equipped with event data records - most commonly referred to as "Black Boxes".

Most vehicles produced already such devices on board and they have so-called unintended acceleration helped in the recent investigations on security issues like the fear-mongering Toyota. But the use of technology has some concerns with privacy advocates.

Congress has failed to pass legislation that the use of event data recorders or EDRs, in 2010 would have required. Asked the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to his own order review. Validation was completed this week by the White House Office of management and budget and final regulations will follow likely early next year.

The proposal was originally expected late 2011, but the process was delayed without explanation of reasons. However, NHTSA has listed, the use of black boxes 'Priority' is a spokesman for sure, such devices are critical to the "continuous improvements in vehicle safety."

Automotive of EDRs are similar to, but not nearly as sophisticated as the flight recorders in commercial aircraft - and that is routinely used to important information about crashes and other incidents offer aircraft used. Installed, are already almost 92% of today's vehicles, according to industry officials and important information for industry engineers and, under certain circumstances the law enforcement agencies.

Look into claims that allows Toyota unexpectedly would begin products without speed driver input, used in several studies researchers is such recorder to see what really happens often to discover that the problem was in fact, the result of driver error, such as the application of the throttle instead of the brake.

The industry trade group, the Alliance of automobile manufacturers, or target, approved the use of the black box - but has also warned that any new rules must be taken into account privacy issues.

"We must ensure that to protect the privacy", said spokesman Gloria Bergquist of the Detroit News. "Automakers do not access EDR information without the consent of the consumer, and all State requirements for EDRs installation on all vehicles included steps to protect of the privacy of consumers."

One concern is that new mandates for such devices could facilitate it for authorities to see whether a driver to accelerate or were otherwise violating the law.

An official, rules vary by State, but in many parts of the country - law enforcement or a plaintiff in a case - must receive approval before the vehicle Blackbox can be accessed today without the permission of the owner.

As is with a seating black box, which records the current technology and saves only a limited amount of data - however, that have led what as enough to a snapshot of a crash could such as, whether the driver of the application was the brakes or throttle valve and seat belts used were put together. In contrast to the air and space industry should the new regulations to require no recording of conversations in the passenger compartment of the vehicle.

NHTSA has already strengthened the problem from the beginning of the model year 2013 all EDR be commonized data to facilitate access. The use of proprietary formats complicated the Toyota unintended acceleration tests.

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RAV4s reviewed Toyota Camry, of house fires

CNBC's Phil LeBeau has the details on regulators opened a probe of 840 K Toyota Camry and Rav 4 s.

DETROIT - U.S. safety regulators have a preliminary investigation of consumer complaints the driver side door fires in 2007 model year Toyota Camry sedan and RAV4 crossover SUV opened.

The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said that an estimated 830,000 vehicles could be affected. This checkpoint is less than a recall but one can lead to.

Six consumers complained, NHTSA said in a filing that shows that the investigation was opened this week.

"On the basis of the information available, it seems that the fire from the window master switch is originating are on the side of the driver's door," the submission says.

Toyota said that it expects more information from the NHTSA before answering the authority.

"Toyota received the preliminary assessment opening resume for 2007 RAV4 and Camry on 7 February." However, we have received no request for information from the NHTSA. Toyota to investigate these claims will cooperate fully with the Agency in their efforts, ", said the company in an e-Mail statement.

In another callback news
Nissan is almost 37,000 conversely small cars with transmissions in the United States reminds, because she potentially could be shifted from Park, without the brake pedal, depressing filed for documents with NHTSA.

NHTSA said that 36.608 Versas model year 2012 may experience interference between the gear lever bar and shift knob with automatic transmission. That cause that without reinforcement panels on the brake pedal, the driver to shift the vehicle inadvertently increases the risk of an accident according to NHTSA documents.

Nissan said in November 2011 during a vehicle inspection, dealer the problem notify owners and replace the shifter button or lever Assembly as necessary, said NHTSA. The recall is expected to begin on 20 February.

A Nissan official said that no accidents or injuries on this issue signed.

Copyright 2011 Thomson Reuters.

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White House holds big boost, fuel consumption

WASHINGTON-the Obama is managing U.S. automakers say that passenger cars and light trucks to average 56.2 miles per gallon would it by 2025 - a boost of the efficiency of fuel consumption, but drive the cost of cars other than consumers money at the gas pump and help the global warming would.

Management officials floated the number of meetings last week with the Detroit three--General Motors, Ford and Chrysler - people in Government and industry with the discussion familiar. She authorized languages on condition of anonymity because they were not publicly to talk about.

While it is only a starting point, the figure of the first note the Government may be routed from where, how it works a 2017-2025 fuel consumption set standard. Last year, protection agency said the Transport Department and the environmental, somewhere would keep mpg a federal standard between 47 mpg and 62.

The upper end of the range would be a massive shift in which Americans drive. An analysis of the Government found that about half of the lineup of new vehicles would have to be gas-electric hybrids among the most aggressive standards. To reach the technology had a 56-mpg standard according to Administration estimates, would be $2,100 to $2,600 to add the price of a car. But because less fuel would need the vehicles owner would make the difference with fewer trips to the gas station.

Environmentalists are urging the highest standards, but automakers have so far said she would be prepared, while the next eight years on vehicles between 42.6 work and receive 46.7 miles per gallon.

The Obama administration hopes to find some common ground and reach one deal before it makes a formal proposal in September. Once a standard is reached, be communicated to other car manufacturers.

Early in 2009, the White House announced a landmark agreement with car manufacturers and States require to reach 35.5 miles per gallon by 2016 passenger cars and light commercial vehicles on average and set the first gas standards for greenhouse gas emissions from tailpipes.

The stakes are higher this time because no longer by the White House tracked legislation to curb climate change which is on the lookout for other ways to address global warming. High gasoline prices have not only to find that ways to increase supply oil, but also to reduce pressure on the Government.

"We continue to closely with a wide range of stakeholders, to develop a major standard, families save money and keep the jobs of the future here" White House spokesman of Clark Stevens in a statement said. "A final decision has not been made, and as we have made clear, want to, we propose a standard in September."

The goal of 56.2 mpg is hard, but General Motors will find way to achieve a, said Mark Reuss, North American President of the company. He would not say what would use GM technologies to achieve the goal, but he conceded that many simpler, less costly solutions are already in progress or have such as the shift to smaller engines and development been done more fuel-saving transmission.

"If you these things in put for the first time, they can be more expensive," he said. "But this is a volume and scale industry." "What was very expensive in the past is no longer very expensive."

Ford Motor Co., said in a written statement that talks with the Government continue but that it "more and more fuel economy requirements with a national program, the data-driven is supported and the impact on jobs, the economy, consumers and the safety factors....",.

Dan Becker, Director of the safe climate campaign at the Center, map showing against a security for car too many assumptions, it is more important than the norm as automakers are allowed is to be achieved.

"It is not only the number, which is what one." It is the gaps below it, "said Becker." "And automaker looks, make it dependent on number in Swiss cheese is."

Copyright 2011 associated press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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