Q: The idea that my car has a black box inside to record crash data caught me as a great surprise. Why isn’t this better known?
Frank Chu, San Jose
A: Black boxes have been required on new vehicles since 2014 and must be listed in driver manuals. But unless you have pored over the manual, you likely had no clue about this device that is usually located deep inside the dashboard near the steering wheel. It is about the size of a deck of cards.
Q: Has the question of who has access to your car’s black box data been settled in a court of law? And how can I periodically erase it?
John Pearl, Walnut Creek
A: The Supreme Court requires a warrant for police and insurance companies seeking this data. But it’s next to impossible to erase this data.
Q: What information is listed in these black boxes?
Larry Reese, San Jose
A: Vehicle speed, throttle position, airbag deployment times, whether the brakes were applied, if seatbelts were worn, steering angles and more. Manufacturers may also have up to 30 additional data points if they want, excluding GPS location, video and audio. Also, a black box stores information for only 20 seconds around the crash.
In 2011, Massachusetts Lt. Gov. Tim Murray crashed a government-owned vehicle on a stretch of Interstate 190. Initially, police investigating the crash did not issue any citations. Murray initially claimed he simply lost control on the ice — that he wasn’t speeding, was wearing a seat belt and braked.
But those claims were all later disproven when the black box data recorder revealed Murray was traveling 108 mph and was not wearing a seat belt when the vehicle collided with a rock ledge and flipped over.
Murray was unhurt in the accident.
Q: I’m soon moving to Utah. Two months ago, I purchased a new car in California. When I register my car in Utah, can I request a car registration refund from California for the unused months of registration here?
Linda Yallech
A: Sorry, but the DMV does not grant refunds for this.
Q: The Skyline Boulevard vista point north of Alpine Road has been closed since the beginning of the pandemic. People who want to look at the valley view or the sunset are parking on the shoulders in both directions. So there is really no benefit anymore to closing the vista point. Are there any plans to reopen it?
By the way, you can see the Sierra from there on exceptionally clear days.
Bill Stock, Emerald Hills
A: Not immediately, until the virus is tamed. Impressive about the view of the Sierra.
Join Gary Richards for an hourlong chat noon Wednesday at www.mercurynews.com/live-chats. Look for Gary Richards at Facebook.com/mr.roadshow or contact him at mrroadshow@bayareanewsgroup.com
or 408-920-5335.
