Traffic: black box for new vehicles
EVERYTHING UNDER CONTROL In July 2022, the EU will introduce a new regulation that Switzerland will also adopt: From then on, it will be mandatory for new vehicle types to have a black box and a speed warning system on board.
The speed assistant combines familiar assistance systems with each other: traffic sign recognition, cruise control, the speed limiter and the navigation system. In this way, it is supposed to recognize the respective applicable limits by means of sensors, camera images and a certified digital map network.
If it detects a speeding violation, the system alerts the driver. This can be done either visually and acoustically. Or visually and haptically, if the warning is accompanied by a vibrating accelerator pedal, for example.
Complete shutdown of the engine power
The EU regulation also allows the system to be designed more strictly. If the vehicle is traveling too fast, the fuel supply could be throttled or the engine power could be switched off completely, thus reducing the speed below the applicable limit.
The brake, however, is not applied. However: The system's warnings can be ignored or even overruled. In addition, it must be possible to switch off the system.
Collected data remains in the vehicle
The accident data recorder, the equivalent of the black box known in aviation, will in future record speed, acceleration and other vehicle functions such as airbags, lights and turn signals. The data will remain in the vehicle. The system is intended to help find out after a traffic accident whether and how various vehicle equipment was working.
According to the Federal Roads Office (Astra), "Whether the turn signal was set, the lights were on or the airbag opened properly, these questions can be clarified."
Accident investigation by competent authorities
Unlike flight data recorders, cars do not store data of the entire route, but only from five seconds of the accident event until its end, the spokesman continued. Compared to aviation, it is more of a black box light. The data is read out by accident investigation authorities.
Initially, the regulations in the EU and Switzerland will apply to new vehicle models launched on the market. From July 7, 2024, all new cars would have to be equipped with this driver assistance system.
