Drivers 'not black boxes' stop accidents from happening
Personal insurance
5th November 2009
Although a project that will explore the potential to install black boxes like those on aircraft into cars may modify mototists' behaviour, it will not stop accidents.
This is the opinion of the chief examiner of the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM), Peter Rodger, who claimed that drivers could be more cautious with the devices onboard because of the "cultural thing of 'there's a black box watching me so I'll be careful'".
However, he emphasised the importance of good motoring skills in stopping crashes from occurring, noting: "What prevents the accident is the driver and the effect that the technology has on the driver."
The event data recorders (EDRs) can monitor the behaviour of those behind the wheel and their vehicles, recording information about braking, speeds and indicating, for example.
Customers seeking a UK insurance policy may be interested to learn that a new scheme has been given the go ahead by the European Commission to look at the use of EDRs in cars and will be led by a consortium headed by automotive specialist Siemens VDO.
Entitled Project Veronica, it is part of a goal to cut the number of fatalities on European Union roads in half by 2010.
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