J. Severyn wrote:
"Capt. Geoffrey Thorpe" The Sea Hawk at wow way d0t com wrote in message
news:yvidnbruEJwv59_YnZ2dnUVZ_rGdnZ2d@wideopenwest .com...
I wish cars had these.

Most cars built today do have a black box....the engine control unit.
Records speed, temp, engine RPM, MAP, transmission gear, and may include
airbag state, brake application and other sensors depending on make and
model. Post crash, the data can be used for or against you.

Exactly. Some states are passing laws preventing insurance companies
from using your car's data against you. There have already been some
convictions where the defendant claimed to not have been speeding
before an accident, but the engine and transmission computers' memory
showed otherwise.

There was even a priest in a nighttime hit-and-run case who claimed not
to have seen anybody, but his car module showed that he hit his brakes
at the time the person was killed. He was convicted.

Kev