More Toyota issues

[olnacl]

In my morning paper. Black Box contents withheld from investigators

[quote=Toyota has for years blocked access to data stored in devices similar to airline \black boxes” that could explain crashes blamed on sudden unintended acceleration, according to a review of lawsuits and interviews.

[OWC Jamie]

Some crash experts say Toyota shouldn’t bear too much criticism for failing to capture large amounts or specific kinds of data, because EDR systems were built for air bag data and not to reconstruct wrecks.

A rather speculative and unsubstantiated piece.



Edit : added quotes tags

[deckeda]

The AP asked questions and didn't get very good answers, but that's not speculative or unsubstantiated news. Maybe they should only report on something when there's a smoking gun?

A company statement said Thursday that the devices record data from five seconds before until two seconds after an air bag is deployed in a crash.

Like the article said, today's EDR boxes aren't going to help reconstruct crashes. One day they probably will. The challenge with all of this is in how far you take it.

Let's say the EDR records the full drive cycle from ignitiion-on to crash and includes all of that data. Does a strong accelerator pedal angle mean someone is pressing on it, or a floor mat? Brakes not applied? Does that mean the driver meant to go fast, or that they were scared outta their wits because the car was out of control? And what about when a survivor emphatically disputes all the new data? They're lying, or the data still isn't capturing the true event sequence?

[macphanatic]

The AP article has a little more detail: http://apnews.excite.com/article/2010030...64VO1.html


AP also found that Toyota:


- Has frequently refused to provide key information sought by crash victims and survivors. If Toyota has nothing to hide, why wouldn't they provide data from the EDR?

- Uses proprietary software in its EDRs. Until this week, there was only a single laptop in the U.S. containing the software needed to read the data following a crash.

- In some lawsuits, when pressed to provide recorder information Toyota either settled or provided printouts with the key columns blank. Why would they settle or blank parts of print outs if they had nothing to hide?

They may have done nothing wrong and have nothing to hide, but their actions would lead one to believe otherwise. Have other companies acted similarly? Absolutely. It is because of this, that Toyota faces such scrutiny. In the end, it may come out that the issue was never as bad as it was made out, but the manner in which Toyota responded may destroy their brand.

[MikeF]

Who owns the "actual" EDR data -- which is data collected during the operation of the car? The car manufacturer or the car owner?

[deckeda]

Ooh, a potential privacy issue for owners or intellectual property issue for Toyota. Good question.

[RAMd®d]

but that's not speculative or unsubstantiated news.

Agreed.


Ooh, a potential privacy issue for owners or intellectual property issue for Toyota. Good question.

Bingo. It's a double-edged sword. Maybe even multiple edges.

The "nothing to hide" rationale is BS. Only people with an agenda jump to conclusions. Does Toyota roll over and give up the data to anybody who wants it? How do they decide who gets it and who doesn't? Should the police get it? Your spouse's divorce lawyer?

Lots of good reasons to keep it private, screw the "if they've got nothing to hide" hypocrites.

Now if we can just show how it will stop child porn, that's different.

You, know. For the children.