Given the technological age in which we live, most of us are well aware that our privacy is not always completely protected and that what we regard as confidential information in our personal lives can sometimes be threatened and compromised. Thus, we create passwords, we shred documents, we think for a moment before we transact online.
How many of us have considered, though, that our driving habits and behaviors are possibly -- even likely -- being scrutinized and recorded by an unseen companion in our vehicles?
Spokespersons from car manufacturers matter-of-factly state that when we are speeding, driving without our seat belt on or applying the brake in arguably erratic ways, it is likely being recorded by an on-board data recorder. Moreover, and in the event a collision or other mishap results in an airbag being deployed in our vehicle, the recorder automatically saves such information for the period immediately preceding the deployment.
Most vehicles built within the past decade have such technology incorporated, say car manufacturing officials, who state that the saved information helps them to make safety improvements.
An ancillary and obvious outcome, though, is that the information can be sought by police officers, insurance companies and other parties. Indeed, court orders have already resulted many times in using the data from on-board recorders as evidence in civil and criminal court contests.
Car manufacturers stress that they respect and always seek to protect consumers' privacy interests, noting that vehicle buyers are apprised of the technology and that it is protected by a code.
They also note, though, that use of saved recorder information by third parties is often beyond their control.
"If it's requested by law enforcement or court order, we provide the information for that," says a Nissan spokesman.
Related Resource: USA Today, "Automotive 'black boxes' raise privacy issues" Oct. 16, 2011
