Well after looking at DVR cameras on the internet (see the Skoda Fabia II section, a lad on there had a nasty accident which was captured by it), I have stumbled across a related subject on several American websites saying about these EDRs installed in the majority of new cars after 2005 (something like 64%).

The EDR captures critical data seconds before an impact, for example, mph, throttle percentage, etc, etc. Not location however. It is a little box tucked away deep inside the cars internals, usually related to the airbag control unit.

Do we have these as standard in our UK cars? I can't seem to find any information regarding countries outside the USA having this technology installed, only USA websites mentioning them and the privacy concerns.

Edit: Just found a reference on wikipedia where apparently a 21 year old lad in the UK was convicted in his Range Rover Sport, after the EDR data was downloaded and found him speeding 72 in a 30mph at the point of impact.

Edit 2: Apparently Audi don't install them at all. Wonder if this is applicable to all VAG cars.

Thanks,

Stuart.

Found this American source

General Motors has had the crash data retrieval EDR modules in all its models since 1999. Ford has had them in all models since 2000. Today, General Motors, Ford, Isuzu, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Subaru, and Suzuki equip all of their vehicles with EDRs. Toyota installs an EDR in half of their vehicles. However, BMW, Daewoo, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Mercedes, Nissan, Porsche, and Volkswagen don't have crash data retrieval systems. (Remember what we said earlier: crash data retrieval systems are distinguished from a motor data retrieval system - most cars of any manufacturer now have motor data recorders.)

Source:http://www.lawyertrialforms.com/powerarticles/MVAArticleEDR.pdf

And this from the Independent in August 1999

BRITISH cars will soon be routinely fitted with black-box recorders similar to those used in aircraft. They will make it possible to determine with almost absolute certainty the cause of any accident - and who is responsible.

General Motors is pioneering the technology in nine of its latest US models and has confirmed that the recorders will be introduced in British cars in the next two years. Other companies, including Ford and Mercedes- Benz, say their engineers are developing similar systems to improve car safety.

Source: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk-cars-to-have-black-box-crash-recorders-1111462.html

I think alot of airbag modules have data recorders in them, they record at what speeds the airbags deployed etc altho don't know if they record what happens before said event

My friend who works for a car electronics firm said Jag's have this fitted.

If you crash because the fly-by-wire system goes mad and 'floors' it, then there are potential sueing issues!

There is lots of interesting stuff about cosmic radiation now affecting car electronics because they have become so tighly packed & highly complex (this a known issue with planes). We are building a £M experiment at work to irradiate microchips.

Ever wondered why you get a light on the dash for no reason, could be good old cosmic radiation!

I've got an EDR which records everything.

It's called the WIFE !