AAA Supports Motorists’ Privacy Protection
Lawmakers in Harrisburg are considering legislation that would protect motorists’ privacy by limiting access to their vehicle black boxes. AAA, North America’s largest organization for motorists, strongly supports this legislation. Event data recorders (EDRs), known as vehicle black boxes, collect and store aspects of vehicle performance and driver activity.

EDR data was intended for use by traffic safety agencies to collect and analyze crash data, and to improve vehicle safety. AAA supports the use of crash data for this purpose as long as the data is not connected to any particular vehicle or vehicle owner.

While many vehicle purchasers are not aware these devices are in their automobiles, most are unaware of the nature and potential use of the information collected by their EDR. Data collected by EDRs, without the driver’s knowledge, has been used in civil and criminal cases in several states and in Canada. At least one auto insurance company is considering basing policy rates on EDR data. Auto manufacturers could use EDR data to void warranties. The possibilities are endless.

Several states have already passed laws requiring disclosure of the existence of an EDR in a vehicle, and protection of a driver’s privacy by requiring the owner’s permission or a court order before downloading the EDR data.

Senate Bill 1050, sponsored by Republican and Democrat Transportation Committee Chairmen, Roger Madigan and J. Barry Stout, would require written disclosure to purchasers of new or leased vehicles as to whether an EDR or similar device is contained within the vehicle. The proposed law would also protect consumers’ privacy by requiring the vehicle owner’s permission or a court order to download the data.

AAA believes the owner of a vehicle also owns the EDR data as they have purchased the technology when they bought their vehicle. When consumers drive off the lot with a new car, they own more than just the vehicle; they own the information their vehicle generates and stores.