Driver Leaves Scene Of Accident, Gets Turned In By Her Car
from the prosecution-would-like-to-submit-this-jumble-of-circuits-and-wires-as-Exhibit-A dept
It's no secret today's vehicles collect tons of data. Or, at least, it shouldn't be a secret. It certainly isn't well-known, despite even some of the latest comers to the tech scene -- legislators -- having questioned automakers about their handling of driver data.
More than one insurance company will offer you a discount if you allow them to track your driving habits. Employers have been known to utilize "black boxes" in company vehicles. These days, the tech is rarely even optional, although these "event data recorders" generally only report back to the manufacturers themselves. Consumer-oriented products like OnStar combine vehicle data with GPS location to contact law enforcement/medical personnel if something unexpected happens. Drivers can trigger this voluntarily to seek assistance when stranded on the road because of engine trouble, flat tires, etc.
They can also trigger this involuntarily, as one Florida woman found out.
Police responded to a hit-and-run in the 500 block of Northwest Prima Vista Boulevard on Monday afternoon. The victim, Anna Preston, said she was struck from behind by a black vehicle that took off. Preston was taken to the hospital with back injuries.The owner of the vehicle seemed surprised to be receiving a call from a 911 dispatcher. The driver, Cathy Bernstein, first claimed she hadn't been in an accident. Unfortunately, the call was triggered by her airbag deploying, which can happen without a corresponding impact, but rarely enough that the dispatcher sent police officers to the driver's home following the phone call.
Around the same time, police dispatch got an automated call from a vehicle emergency system stating the owner of a Ford vehicle was involved in a crash and to press zero to speak with the occupants of the vehicle.
At that point, her story changed.
Police went to Bernsteins's home on Northwest Foxworth Avenue and saw that her vehicle had extensive front-end damage and silver paint from Preston's vehicle on it. Bernstein's airbag had also been deployed.From that point, the story gets even better.
Police said Bernstein again denied hitting another vehicle, saying she had struck a tree.
It was later discovered that Bernstein had been involved in another accident prior to the one with Preston and was fleeing from that incident.The whole recording is worth a listen, especially as Bernstein buys time after being blindsided by the unexpected incoming call.
Dispatcher: Are you broke down?In this case, the system worked, although not in the way anyone really expected. Someone who thought they had gotten away with two consecutive hit-and-runs found herself talking to police officers after her car tried to help her out by dialing 911. The onboard system is meant to ensure the safety of the driver. In this case, it was apparently everyone else that needed the protection, but the circuitous route still reached the most desirable conclusion.
Bernstein: No. Unfortunately [looooooong pause] I'm fine.
[...]
Bernstein: The guy who hit me […] I could not control that.
Dispatcher: So, you HAVE been in an accident.
Bernstein: [pause, then very slowly] No.
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Filed Under: accidents, cars, hit and run, internet of things
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Bonus points I would run my phone (I only paired it for music) thru the external USB but it doesn't support my particular phone model (Galaxy Note 2).
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(Although owning an Explorer was enough...)
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Clippy: "It looks like you are trying to kill a Super Mutant. Would you like help?"
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Palindrom
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Re: Palindrome
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Re: Re: Palindrome
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Re: Re: Re: Palindrome
It's not "palindrome", which would be "OnStar rats, no!", but I think "anagram" isn't sufficient for what they're looking for either.
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Re: Re: Palindrome
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Re: Re: Re: Palindrome
hee hee hee
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Re: Re: Re: Palindrome
"Onstar? Rats, NO!"
A perfectly sensible remark for anyone who fears having an accident while fleeing the scene of a crime in a car.
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Palindrome
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Imagine an OnStar or Sync system in the vehicle.
US drone operators being able to track it using its own GPS system and radio signals. Killing the engine at the last moment to make it an easier target for incoming missiles. A voice coming from the burning wreckage: "Sir, we've detected that your airbag deployed." Police visiting the original owner's house to look for damage.
Politicians demanding that data from these systems not be encrypted.
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Most desirable for everyone except the person buying the product.
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Even she'd be safer on the road if everyone like her were removed from driving it.
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This is normal
This is nothing to lose any sleep over. I accept this in favor of my life possibly being saved by the automated system if I do end up being in bad accident.
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Re: This is normal
In your opinion.
> I accept this
That's your choice, but such tech should always be opt-in.
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Re: This is normal
Someone bumps your vehicle in the parking lot and you have to not only replace the airbag and other damage which is not cheap but you also may end up with a bill for emergency services you did not ask for.
Enjoy
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Re: Re: This is normal
If you are in the car, take down the other guy's licence plate number, and make the other guy pay for it though his insurance.
I don't see the issue.
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Re: Re: Re: This is normal
"What You Need to Know About Air Bags, DOT HS 809 575". Nhtsa.gov. Archived from the original on 28 May 2010. Retrieved 2010-10-17.
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Re: Re: Re: Re: This is normal
If you strike a parked car at a certain speed, your airbags must go off: that's (approximately) what the law you quoted says. It does not say that the parked car's airbags must deploy.
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It gets a sudden acceleration when hit, which looks the same to the sensors.
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Hell no...
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Re: Hell no...
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Isn't it awesome? I don't understand why anyone would not welcome this with open arms and wallet. It is worth every penny - amirite?
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Re: Re: Re: Hell no...
Either be prepared to take the consequences of your actions when driving or stay off the damn road! /snark
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oh YES,
our smartphones should not only turn us in, but also testify against us
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Laws don't take away choice...
Is it wrong to hit and run? Of course, but it's even more wrong to insist that someone should not have the power to choose what they do in a situation. They cannot choose the consequences of their choices, but they can and should have the right to make those choices.
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Re: Laws don't take away choice...
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Re: Hell no...
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(modem sound) ... beep beep beep
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Is that in fact what happened? Hard to tell from the article.
As far as alarms calling emergency services: AFAIK that's illegal by federal law. Both burglar and fire alarms must transmit their signal(s) to a central station; they cannot call an emergency service directly.
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How does one know about this stuff?
Do auto makers disclose ALL of the things that modern cars can do?
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cash for clunkers NSA BUSH program?
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Car Snitching
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Re: Car Snitching
Oh, and there is no toilet paper, please use the three shells.
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Re: Car Snitching
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"CRASH KILLING the passenger leaving NO SKIDMARKS"
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