Now that cars are so computerised, and 'Crash for Cash' and insurance fraud are so prevalent, is it time to introduce 'Black Box' gadgets into cars during production as a standard fit? They could include:
- Cameras front, rear (at driver eyesight level) and aimed at the driver - shows what other drivers are doing and that the driver is awake and alert, not playing with a phone or radio etc and looking where is is going.
- A display of whether the driver is accelerating, slowing, braking or on Cruise Control.
- A display showing what lights are on at the time of an incident. Headlights, indicators, fog lights, main beam, brake light.
- A speed reading.
- Tyre pressures.
- Temperature and whether windscreen wipers are in use.
- Steering angle.
With all of this it would make the investigation of an RTC, incident or crime easier and quicker. Insurance rates would drop as fraud would be harder. 'Crash for cash' attempts would be easier to prove and thus refuse payouts. The driver could prove he was doing things correctly if an incident occurred safer for the driver as he could prove he was not at fault.
Almost all of this information is already going through the car's computer so it should be fairly easy and inexpensive to incorporate the system which could be in a crash proof box like Airlines use (wouldn't need to be as big or strong). The recording could go to duplicate memory cards - One for Police, one for driver/insurance company.
What are your thoughts?