Car 'black boxes' must now record standardized crash data

The US Transportation Department has issued new rules for event data recorders, the "black boxes" in cars. These rules standardize the type of crash data all new vehicles must record. This means accident investigators will have consistent information about what happened right before and during a crash, regardless of the car's make or model.

For years, data from car crashes was inconsistent, making it harder to understand accident causes and liability. This rule forces all car manufacturers to collect the same basic information. It means accident reconstruction, vehicle safety design, and even insurance claims will rely on a common set of facts.