When an accident occurs with an aircraft, investigative agencies try to understand the cause of the accident with the help of black boxes. Now such a system is going to become important in cars too. The government has made changes to vehicle safety standards, including rules related to Event Data Recorder (EDR). It is called the black box of the car. Apart from this, new provisions have also been made to protect pedestrians, protect passengers during collisions and prevent car theft.

How does a car’s black box work?

The EDR looks like a separate machine, but it is connected to the vehicle’s control system. The system is also concerned with safety procedures such as airbag deployment. When a car crashes hard or airbags deploy, EDR can save information about the moments surrounding the crash.

Information from speed to seat belts

EDR can record information such as vehicle speed, brakes used, seat belts worn and airbags deployed. It usually contains a few seconds of data related to the accident. This does not mean that the car keeps recording the entire driving of each day. The system also does not record the conversation or voice of the occupants of the vehicle.

Assistance in accident investigation will be provided

Suppose a car collides with another vehicle. In such a situation, during the investigation, it is necessary to know the speed of the car before the accident and whether the driver applied the brakes or not. EDR data can help answer these questions.

However, this data alone does not reveal the complete cause of the accident. Things like road conditions, weather and the role of other vehicles also have to be examined.

Emphasis on safety of pedestrians and passengers

The purpose of the changed safety standards is not only to facilitate post-accident investigations. This also includes provisions that will ensure less injury to pedestrians if they are hit by a car. Apart from this, attention has also been paid to improving the safety of the car occupants during frontal and side collisions.

New provisions to prevent car theft

The rules also contain provisions regarding systems like alarms and immobilizers. The immobilizer prevents the engine from starting without the correct key or authorized. This can make it difficult for thieves to mis-start the vehicle.

When will the new safety regulations come into effect?

Not all changes will be implemented from the same date. Some rules have an end date of October 2027, while others will come into force in 2028 and 2029. For other provisions, the deadline is set for 2031 and 2032. This will give car companies time to make necessary changes.

EDR is already in use in other countries

In China, EDR was made mandatory in passenger cars from January 1, 2022. It is also mandatory for new cars in Europe from 2022. According to US agency NHTSA estimates, about 96 percent of 2013 model year cars already had EDR.

Data privacy also raises questions

Who will have access to EDR-related data is also an important issue. Concerns have been raised about privacy in the US, as information related to accidents can be used as evidence in court. There this data is considered the property of the car owner and viewing it without his permission is prohibited. It is important to clarify who can access this data in India and under what circumstances.

India NCAP rating will also be strict

According to Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari, the second phase of India NCAP will be implemented from October 2027. 20 points out of 100 are reserved for the safety of pedestrians and other vulnerable road users. Keep in mind that India NCAP is a rating program to test the safety of cars, while EDR and other safety standards are part of the rules applicable to vehicles.

Overall, the government is trying to make cars safer. Besides helping in accident investigation, the emphasis will also be on improving the safety of people sitting in cars and people walking on the road.

Now you have to pay more for Maruti’s most popular 7-seater car, also know the reason for the price hike.