NTSB Considers Black Boxes for Cars

November 8, 2000 10:46 AM, EST

SAN DIEGO — The National Transportation Safety Board is likely to make a recommendation that electronic recorders be placed on automobiles sometime next year.

	Related Stories
	CVSA Calls for Separate ‘Black Box’ Rule (Sept. 18) Union Voices Opposition to On-board Driver Monitors (Aug. 2) Opinion: Carved in Electronic Stone (Aug. 2)
	Shop Online
	Hours of Service Information Pack

Joe Osterman, NTSB’s director of highway policy, said it is difficult to get a full account of what took place in an accident if only one vehicle has an event-data recorder. He added that event-data recorders are critical tools in finding out what took place in an accident and in taking steps to prevent future accidents.

NTSB has recommended onboard event recorders on trucks for many years, similar to the crash-proof units on commercial airliners commonly known as “black boxes.”

“To find out exactly what happened, you have to have both vehicles equipped with onboard recorders,” Osterman said.

For the full story, see the Nov. 6 print edition of Transport Topics. Subscribe today.