Feds May Require Cars to Talk to Each Other to Avoid Crashes

I'm gonna' tweak mine to send out a constant "GET OUT OF THE WAY" message....traffic will part like the Red Sea, it'll be great....

This could give a whole new meaning to "my computer crashed"!

Jeez, it's bad enough having my wife tell me how to drive!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now, I don't even get a vote?

It's all we need, more of big brother, and just think of the hay-day the insurance industry will have with this. I won't mention the problems of more distracted drivers. Over complacent drivers thinking they can now safely finish the "LOL" text messages, knowing their cars will keep them from crashing.

Already happening in the new cars. Your little black box that runs the car also records many of the things you had just did with it. Watch out if they start using this data. Insurance company want it very badly now. Oh there it is he was speeding before "he" caused the crash. Sorry won't pay for that one!

Just saying!

Actually a "pilot" program has been going on for years with black box recorders piggy-backed on the engine computer for "research" purposes, and yes, the data has already been used in the courts to "verify" the drivers' testimonies. Many car rental computers track your usage and put surcharges on your bill for exceeding their speeding and/or distance criteria.

http://www.rense.com/general26/rentalcarsatellite.htm

http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/2013/03/24/car-spying-edr-data-privacy/1991751/

http://blogs.computerworld.com/20109/busted_your_cars_black_box_is_spying_may_be_used_against_you_in_court

From the above article:

"...A politician was caught speeding, not by the cops but by his totaled car's black box. The police thought the wreck was a result of icy roads, but Massachusetts Lt. Gov. Timothy Murray wanted to silence political opponents and had hoped the e-evidence collected from his 2007 Ford Crown Victoria EDR would be his unshakable alibi. It was unshakable all right, but it proved Murray wasn't wearing a seatbelt, was "going 75 mph on an interstate marked for 65 mph," and "in the final few seconds before the crash, Murray pressed the accelerator, and the car's speed rose to 99 mph; it was traveling 106 mph by the time it hit the rock ledge." Busted!..."

I'm very aware that black boxes are on board and the insurance companies are already using this technology to their advantage. And here in California, there's rumors they're going to try and force older vintage vehicles off the road, making way for preying eyes. And I find that to be a problem.

Glad I didn't get suckered into getting rid of my clunkers.

Okay the DOT can mandate the use. What I don't understand is the problem implementing it brought forth in the article. These system are already available. Since every car does not have GPS locator nor does it have the ability to communicate with every other car. Then other technology is being used to locate the vehicle in front of you. And would have to do so for the 20 yrs. Possibly a lot longer as there are classic and antique cars still running the road.

I place the blame of these forced controls on the habits of law enforcement officers. For years they have intimidated citizens on the road by tailgating until you get out of their way. Now a portion of the drivers out there use the same tactic. Which has resulting in these multi-car accidents. That and the fact of the lack of courtesy of a lot of drivers.

Use to be we shared the open road. Now the road isn't so open and every one drives like they own it.

I wish there was some kind of way to insure that this would only be used for it's intended purpose.

I've been in two fender benders in my life, where the other people just lied, and I got the ticket...along with being responsible for their damage. These boxes would have proved that I was right.

But at some point, they will be put to use to invade our privacy and track us, so I have to say no.

It's a shame that we can't trust our government to do the right, (and legal), thing.

The horse is out of the barn. The bell has been ring.

Osama Bin Laden achieved his goal of financially crippling the infidels in the USA.

Bush and Obama have finished the job of suppressing our remaining personal liberties.

Now your car will rat you out.

Tinkerbell must be smiling.

Well, I don't think our goose is cooked quite yet.

The left is getting activated over this spying stuff, as is the right...but the right doesn't get off the couch and go march at protests; the left does.

Odd as it may seem, this blatant and illegal government overreach might be just the ticket we needed to unify the country. Even if reigning in government abuse is the only thing we ever agree on, it will be the most critical and important thing in our history.

No person or party should ever be allowed to trample on our rights, privacy and freedom.

Who's gonna argue with that?

The 2016 candidate that sticks with that message, (and means it), will win in a landslide.

"Who's gonna argue with that?"

Tinkerbell.

just another attack on personal freedom. I wont list all the reasons I oppose it's implementation but I do.

The more I read of this type of crap the more I love my '99 Chevy truck and '04 Acura RSX. Both of which were considered fully loaded when new but don't have all the technological distractions of today's new cars. Plus, almost all these other capabilities are incorporated into my smart phone (which I can turn off or ignore), so why clutter my car with it? I want comfort, power, heat & AC, and a good stereo, and all that I can operate with a button or knob I can find and use without looking.

Many of the safety problems automakers try to address with technology could be eased with better training and stricter licensing requirements to reduce the number of true fools and idiots on our roads. Remember, these efforts are not aimed at intentional bad actors, but at everyday drivers who don't know how or don't care to drive well and safely. We'd be better off addressing the "don"t know" and "don't care".