Passenger cars will also be required to have a black box. What does that mean, do you have to take your car to the workshop?
Starting in June 2024, the European regulation will come into effect, which determines that all new cars for sale in Europe must be equipped with the Event Data Recorder (EDR), a device similar to the black boxes we know from aviation, to collect and store essential data to determine accident causes.
The basic regulation has been in effect since July 6, 2022, for all new vehicles under development, but starting from July 7, the rule is valid not only for newly developed vehicles, but for all passenger cars and passenger commercial vehicles for sale in the European Union. It will only be mandatory for new cars.
What is the EDR and how does it work?
The EDR is one of the 8 mandatory safety systems that will record data during the 5 seconds prior to an accident and 0.03 seconds afterwards.
According to authorities, all (anonymous) information will only be stored in very specific situations, helping to determine causes and responsibilities in case of an accident.
Usually incorporated in the airbag control unit, the EDR is the size of a small portable battery and is automatically activated when the airbags and seatbelt tensioners are activated. It also starts recording data when the vehicle’s active hood operates or when a lateral or longitudinal speed change of more than 8 km/h is detected in 0.15 seconds.
The device will not record images or audio, but only driving data, in over a dozen variables: speed; throttle pressure or engine revolutions; turning angle and angular velocity in degrees; brake action; duration of positive or negative acceleration; activation of airbags and seatbelt pre-tensioners; use of seatbelts and dimensions of occupants; impact and longitudinal acceleration.
