Black box

In-car black box is here

Aeroplane style recording devices are heading for production cars.

Auto Express Car Reviews

By Peter Lyon

21st February 2008

For the first time ever, a car maker is fitting aircraft-style black boxes to its production vehicles.

While taxis, fleet companies and truck firms have used them for a while, Honda is now offering an accident recorder as an option.

The system comprises a camera that’s fitted to the back of the rear view mirror. It constantly records video footage to a memory card.

Normally, the data is continuously overwritten, but if a built-in sensor detects an impact, the set-up saves eight seconds of footage prior to the incident and 12 seconds after it.

The technology is currently available only in Japan, where it is offered on Honda’s Inspire saloon.