AUTONEWS

Used cars to become increasingly popular: Black box, infrared camera and breathalyzer coming in a few days

From July, changes to the GSR II regulation will come into force, which will bring mandatory safety equipment to all newly registered cars. The new EU rules introduce more and more electronic systems that monitor drivers and increase the cost of ownership of new vehicles.

Among the most important new devices that will be mandatory in new vehicles are infrared cameras that monitor the driver's eyes and attention, as well as black boxes, devices that record key driving data - such as speed, braking and steering wheel position.

The driver control system can react very strictly: if the driver takes his eyes off the road for a long time (about six seconds), the car first warns with an audible signal, and if the warning is ignored, it can turn on the light signals and even start automatically slowing the vehicle. Critics warn that constant warnings and "digital monitoring" could put additional strain on drivers and make driving more stressful.

In addition, a device called a black box will also be mandatory equipment for new cars from July. And it certainly won't add anything to active safety. Unlike an airplane, it doesn't record calls in the cabin, but it continuously monitors telemetry data such as speed, braking force or steering angle. In the event of an accident, the data from the last seconds before the impact is locked and used by police and insurance companies to accurately identify the culprit.

Add to that mandatory autonomous braking with pedestrian detection and a system that automatically turns on the hazard lights when the brake pedal is pressed suddenly. Also coming are alco-blockers that could prevent the vehicle from starting.

All of this brings a higher cost of purchase, but also of maintaining new cars. Repairs are becoming more expensive due to sensitive sensors, cameras and the need to calibrate the system, and even minor impacts or replacing the windshield can mean serious expenses.

That's why older cars, without complex and somewhat annoying electronic systems and constant monitoring, are expected to become increasingly attractive to drivers looking for a simpler and cheaper alternative to modern vehicles. He expects that the European push for assistants will likely cause a famine in the used car market.

The European Union is set to implement a new requirement starting in July 2024. All newly registered М1 passenger cars in the EU will be required to be equipped with Event Data Recorders - EDRs.

The EDR, often referred to as "black box" in airplanes, will store critical vehicle data. In the unfortunate event of an accident, experts can use this data to gain invaluable insights into the accident's cause and progression.

The driving force behind this requirement is UN Regulation No. 160, which actually has been in effect since July 6, 2022, mandating the inclusion of EDRs in all new vehicle developments. However, starting from July 7, 2024, this requirement will extend to cover not only newly developed vehicles but also all newly registered passenger cars and light commercial vehicles.

EDRs can be found in the airbag control modules and continuously record a multitude of vehicle data. This data is only permanently stored when specific sensors detect an accident or unusual driving conditions that could potentially lead to an accident. The recorded data is preserved within a 300-millisecond window before and after the triggering event.

The recorded data falls into three categories: vehicle dynamics information before the crash, after the crash, and restraint system information. Accessing this data requires specialized equipment connected to the EDR through the OBD interface. However, access to the EDR is subject to stringent restrictions and typically requires a court order due to the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) governing data stored within the EU.