Black box unlocks car crash mysteries.

• Position: Trends and Transitions - Brief Article

When a plane crashes, one of the first things investigators look for is the "black box." These recorders store information that can solve the mysteries of a crash. Today, there is similar technology in about 25 million vehicles. And chances are, if you drive a new car, you've got one hidden under your seat.

Data recorders in newer vehicles note the use of brakes, seat belts and air bags, as well as the speed. The National Transportation Safety Board urged manufacturers to install this technology in new cars to make crash investigation and reconstruction easier. The devices start recording once air bags have been deployed--about five seconds before a crash--when most witnesses are not able to remember what happened. Did they hit the brakes? Were they speeding? These questions will be answered more easily through the use of the black boxes. Most, if not all, of the data from the box can be downloaded onto a computer.

To protect the privacy of the...