Toyota Black Boxes May Hold Accident Clues

As much as the Toyota Motor Corporation desires to move beyond its recall issues, the Japanese automaker finds that there are enough hurdles in front of it to slow down its efforts.

Sales are down, customers are worried, and a recording device found in most Toyota, Lexus, and Scion models may hold important clues as to how these accidents happened. Unfortunately, Toyota has not been willing to share data found in these so-called “black boxes” mini and simpler versions of technology found in today’s jet airliners.

Black Boxes

Black box data is important because it often sheds light on what happened just before a car got into an accident. In this case, all of the runaway Toyota problems can be examined closer if Toyota would make its data available to federal regulators or law enforcement personnel.

General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler have black boxes too, but their data can be read by third party sources including via a tool developed by the Robert Bosch Corporation.

Those tools are used by the police, accident attorneys, and investigators to help determine why a car crashed. Ford, GM, and Chrysler provide licensing to third parties such as Bosch which increases transparency. Toyota, however, uses a proprietary system which means that their data can only be shared and analyzed with their permission or by court mandate.

Event Data Recorders

In the Aug. 23, 2006 issue of “CNN Money,” Peter Valdes-Dapena explained that black boxes, which are also called event data recorders (EDR), can be found in most new cars. In fact, the NHTSA requires that car manufacturers tell owners in their manuals if an EDR is present.

Unlike an airliner black box an EDR does not record voices, but it does record what was going on with a car the few seconds before and after an accident. That information may be just enough to help investigators determine exactly what caused an accident.

New York Accident

In the Jan. 27, 2010 issue of the Syracuse “Post-Standard,” accident investigators were eager to get at one particular black box as a result of a fatal November 2009 accident in Auburn, N.Y. That car, a 2010 Toyota Camry, raced out of control injuring the Toyota’s driver, while killing a driver who was hit by the runaway Toyota.

That investigation has been delayed because NHTSA intervention is necessary to get Toyota to release its black box data.

Resources

The Wall Street Journal: Toyota Woes Put Focus on Black Box

Highlights From 2009 NY Auto Show

Hyundai Motor America unveiled the HCD-11 Nuvis concept during a world debut news conference at the New York International Auto Show this week. The four passenger crossover vehicle features gull-wing doors and hybrid technology.

New York International Auto Show Runs Through April 19th

The New York International Auto Show opens today and will be running daily through April 19 including this Sunday which is Easter. The NY show together with shows in Los Angeles, Chicago and Detroit, comprise the four largest shows of the year, the usual venues where automakers introduce new models and concepts.

This year’s show has a host of new vehicles on display from automakers across the globe. Among the important releases at this year’s show are the following models:

Jeep Gran Cherokee — Long the flagship vehicle in Jeep’s fleet, the Gran Cherokee is do for a major overhaul, one which will powered by the automaker’s new Pentastar V-6 engine. That engine will eventually replace as many as seven V-6 powerplants in the Chrysler fleet while allowing the Jeep to have a more fuel efficient standard model. A Hemi V8 will still be available, but Chrysler is pinning its future on the V-6. Look for the 2011 Gran Cherokee to roll out next year.

Kia Forte Koup — Previously introduced at the concept Kia KOUP, the all new Forte is Kia’s newest small car and is scheduled to go on sale late this summer. Powered by a 2.0L I4 engine and resting on standard 16″ wheels, the Forte is expected to get 25 mpg city, 34 mpg highway.  Pricing hasn’t been announced yet, but given Kia’s propensity to surprise, expect it to be very competitively priced.

Scion iQ — Currently sold as the Toyota iQ elsewhere, the iQ concept will most likely become a reality and hit US streets next year. This micro mini mover holds three adults and a child with the US spec car expected to be given a 1.3L I4 engine.  If that is the case, it could deliver a whopping 59 mpg, gas not diesel.

Hyundai Nuvus — The design direction for the Hyundai’s Tucson and Santa Fe crossovers will likely incorporate much of what the Nuvus concept represents which is to say a radical departure from its current look. An upswept grille and sweeping lines announce the Nuvus, a four passenger vehicle that will incorporate Hyundai’s hybrid technology.

Subaru Outback — Subaru may not be a big seller in the US, but it is one of the few full line automakers whose sales numbers have been fairly stable even through the current economic crisis. The Outback, which is powered by a 2.5L I4 engine, will also offer a powerful 3.6L flat-six, giving it plenty of power, matching the Legacy in size too.

Lots of other vehicles can be seen at this year’s show including an all new Subaru Legacy, Volkswagen Golf and GTI, and the Acura ZDX a four-door sports coupe concept.

Photos are the credit of the respective automotive manufacturers.

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