I have been hearing that some car manufacturers have a black box installed that records things like your average speed, speed at time of impact, and other bits of info on driving habits. Now I’m not the smartest cookie on the sheet but I know that cell phones have a GPS chip built in them and it may still work when the phone is turned off. Recently the Palestinians were advising each other not just to turn their cell phones off when Israeli drones were overhead but to take the cell phone battery out also. So I am wondering what is under my hood? So I’m crazy….maybe not.

 

Every car or truck made since the late 90's that has an airbag in it also has some type of event data recorder in it. The EDR is combined in the innards of the restraint control module and cannot be disabled or removed without killing the airbag system. The data recorded by the EDR can exonerate you or just as easily convict you in a legal situation so you better drive nice or your vehicle will tell on you.

 

You may or may not have an Event Data Recorder. If you do not, you probably will on a future new vehicle. You will have reason to be very very concerned about this if:

--The Palestinians or any other group open up shop with drone aircraft and start targeting motor vehicles on the US mainland.

--You use your vehicle in illegal activities.

--You abuse your vehicle and rely on your warranty to cover your intentional destructive conduct.

--You drive your vehicle in such a fashion as to be a hazard to all others on the road and many others near the road.

--You run red lights.

--You drink and drive.

--You misrepresent registration or insurance information with the intention of defrauding the DMV or insurance company.

I'm sure there are other catagories who need fear are review of their driving in the event of an accident or encounter with the traffic revenue officers.

But, if you are not in one of the above catagories, you probably have little to worry about.
My God, I should get into government............

 

On an additional side note, these devices have a rolling memory. They only buffer like 15 - 30 seconds of data from the vehicle (speed, brakes, throttle position, etc.). This memory is constantly overwritten until such time that there is an event that triggers the airbags. Once that happens, the memory basically locks onto those last few seconds for use as needed by the accident forensics team.

 

Clarification: I think the prior post is correct, that with OBDII there is a rolling memory in every car that keeps the last so-many seconds.

I think there are also recorders that keep more info in some cars, perhaps as part of mfg test basis... Either way, that's correct, the car is going to tell on you.....

 

I am really more concerned about the GPS chip. I don't run stop signs, drink and drive, drive hazardously, or try to get over on insurance companies or warranty issues. I just don't trust my government, but I do love my country...

 

Rent the Simpson's movie. They have a scene dealing with what you fear. Rooms with hundreds of government employees tracking each citizen.... I'm sure this is really happening.

 

I was in the military for 24 years. Submarine service. I don't deny that I'm cracked but I seen enough. I'm still in the high tech field and what they talked about yesterday is reality today. Read the book. It's down and dirty but you'll get the idea real quick. I would't be surprized if they don't already have a sample of your DNA. (ha)

http://www.policestateplanning.com/

 

Oh, come on...this is government paranoia gone wild...

There IS NO GPS CHIP IN YOUR TRUCK unless you pay for the navigation system. If there WERE a GPS chip in your truck, there is NO WAY for it to send its signal to the shadowy figures who are so concerned with your every move unless you decide to install a GM OnStar system.

GPS is passive technology...does NOT send ANY signals to anywhere unless it is tied into a cellular or radio system with the capability of reporting your position to said shadowy figures.

Relax!!!

 

Hmm...that is just about the same post that was formulating in my head as I read back through the thread.

No GPS, On-Star, or GPS-capable antenna = no real means of tracking you while you do your dasterdly day-to-day commutes & daring runs for groceries.

 

Here, this is a good authority on GPS

http://www.gpsworld.com/

I live relaxed. I have very little to worry about. We live in a travel trailer on the road. I am sitting in the boonies of the middle of Florida right now. If I decide to move then I just hook up and go. It wouldn't make much difference if there was a GPS in the truck or not. I could be tracked through ATM use, Camcorders at gas stations, tollboths, and phone calls and Internet use. I am SOL no matter what so other than wondering if they do have a GPS module under the hood life goes on.

 

And of course your apparent clean living and unconventional life style would make you a target worthy of 24/7/365 watching.... Thank God our tax dollars are being spent for 4 government employees and a supervisor to keep track of the likes of you.

 

Read the book:

Spying Blind: The CIA, the FBI, and the Origins of 9/11 by Amy Zegart

You'll realize that there is such a break down in the government system, mainly the FBI & CIA that there is no way the average joe is being watched or tracked to any real extent.

There just isn't enough man power or efficiency in government to get that done.

Someone on here was right...this is big brother paranoia gone crazy.

 

rickschramm, I am also worried about our government. More worried about the direction it's going, as it seems that certain elements of our government are getting closer and closer to socialism than ever.

Big brother is NOT one of my concerns. As stated previously, the government is waay too incompitent to pull off something like this even if it wanted to. IF the government did want to do something like this, it would be so rediculously expensive(like everything else related to government) that there would be no hiding their intentions.

Over-hyped conspiracy theories....

 

Its not the govt you need to worry about, it is the insurance companies that want to use that type of info to base you rates on.