As of: March 14, 2024, 5:32 a.m
By: Sebastian Oppenheimer
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A black box must be installed in all newly registered cars from July.
But: What data does the Event Data Recorder collect?
And who has access to it?
Surveillance always has two sides: On the one hand, it can contribute to a greater feeling of security - on the other hand, you sometimes feel like you are being followed.
For example, if Google occasionally sends you an email with the most recently visited places, it is shocking how precise the information the company has about smartphone owners is.
Controlling your own data is anything but easy these days.
From July 7, 2024, a new data collector will be added - among numerous other changes for drivers this year: then the black box will be mandatory in newly registered vehicles.
But what data does the device collect?
And are these also shipped?
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Event Data Recorder: What data the car black box collects
Officially, the installed device is not actually called a “black box”, but rather an “event data recorder” – EDR for short.
What is important is that the EDR has nothing to do with permanent monitoring and evaluation of driving style.
Something like this exists with so-called telematics tariffs from insurance companies.
Using a corresponding smartphone app, an OBD connector or a permanently installed unit, driving data can be collected and transmitted to the vehicle insurance company.
If you drive particularly defensively, you can save money on your contribution.
From July 7, 2024, an Event Data Recorder (EDR) – also known as a “black box” – will be mandatory in newly registered vehicles.
(Symbolic image) © Sebastian Gollnow/dpa
When the car black box records data
The EDR is more comparable to a flight recorder: This is usually only evaluated during or after an accident.
And that's exactly how the car black box should be used: to evaluate and reconstruct accidents.
Basically, the Event Data Recorder permanently records vehicle data while driving - but this is only saved as soon as the black box registers an accident or when the sensor data indicates that a crash is imminent.
However, the EDR is not as large as an aircraft black box - it is usually part of the airbag control unit.
And even if the car black box only becomes officially mandatory in July, it is already on board in many new vehicles.
From mid-2024, interfaces for so-called Alko-Locks will also be required in new EU cars.
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How long does the black box in the car record data?
The recording period is very short: five seconds before the accident and 300 milliseconds after.
According to the automobile club, the storage can be triggered by several factors, such as the triggering of the belt tensioners or the airbags.
The recording is also started if a change in speed in the lateral or longitudinal direction of more than 8 km/h is detected within 150 milliseconds, or the active hood is triggered (for example in the event of a pedestrian collision).
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What data does the black box in the car record?
The black box stores various data before the accident: such as speed, accelerator pedal position, engine speed, activity of ABS and stability control as well as the steering angle.
In the event of a crash, the change in speed in the longitudinal and transverse directions, the seatbelt status of the driver and front passenger, the status of the airbag warning light and the time at which the airbags were triggered are recorded, among other things.
Personal data may not be recorded.
The data generally belongs to the driver or owner of the car.
Where the EDR data is stored and who is allowed to read it
The black box’s recorded data is only saved locally in the car.
Online access is not possible - so hackers should have no chance.
The data can be read using an appropriate device on the on-board diagnostic interface (OBD).
If this is no longer possible due to damage, an expert can also access the data directly from the airbag control unit.
According to ADAC,
the reading should
usually take place on the orders of a judge or the public prosecutor.