▲Professor Kim Pil-su, Department of Future Automobile Engineering, Daerim University


“Car manufacturers should actively step up to install pedal black boxes to prove sudden acceleration of cars”

Accident Recording Device Reliability Issues Highlighted… Distrust in Final Records ↑
Pedal Black Box, Can Prove Sudden Acceleration and Vehicle Innocence Simultaneously

Sudden acceleration accidents in automobiles have been a cause for concern for the past 40 years.

In fact, victims of sudden car accidents often suffer trauma, and if someone dies, the psychological aftereffects are even more serious because they live thinking that they are the perpetrator.

However, in Korea, there has never been a single case where the driver has won the case, so it can be said that the driver has always been at a disadvantage.

The problem with and without sudden acceleration of cars is big, but there has been little effort to actually correct the tilted playing field for this.

There is a problem, but it is not getting better.

Recently, the number of suspected sudden acceleration accidents has been rapidly increasing, drawing more attention.

As the author of the Automobile Acceleration Research Group, I am constantly receiving reports of various accidents related to sudden acceleration through e-mail and other means.

But a singleI know it's a shame to suggest this, but my main purpose is not to be a problem solver for each and every case, but to provide a starting point for fundamentally solving these problems.

It's much better now, but about 15 years ago, the government was not happy with our research group holding press conferences and seminars, so there was a strong negative view.

On the contrary, it worked as pressure and those involved in the research group were subjected to strong pressure.

It is meaningful that research is currently receiving support following the Gangneung rash incident that occurred last year.

As the recent series of sudden acceleration accidents have been occurring for a long time and there is a growing amount of evidence that can be used, the fear of sudden acceleration accidents is increasing, as well as concerns about their authenticity.

There are several recent trends.

First of all, several bills related to sudden acceleration of automobiles have been proposed at the National Assembly level, and the Fair Trade Commission, which is the competent department of the Product Liability Act (PL Act), is holding related meetings and seeking institutional improvements.

In addition, policy research for revising related laws is also being conducted.

In addition, as reliability issues regarding the electronic data recorder (EDR), which has always been at the greatest disadvantage to drivers, have become increasingly prominent, problems and distrust in the final record, which has served as an excuse for automakers, are also increasing.

This part has always been a problem for me.

This means that there is a major problem with reliability since the results of the car accident data recorder are recorded through the ECU, which is the brain of the car.

For example, just as testimony from a mentally ill or dementia patient cannot be used as evidence, it is already an automatic response due to a sudden rash.The strange thing about the car is that its brain, the ECU, is also unreliable and the output it produces is also unreliable.

This situation can be confirmed by several cases where the video footage captured on the actual screen does not match the footage from the black box, which shows that the reliability of the accident recorder is not 100%.

Another positive development is the emergence of pedal black boxes.

The level of video black boxes made in Korea is world-class, and their quality is good enough to be exported to many countries. In the domestic market, they are also common devices, with about 80% of all vehicles equipped with them.

About 20 years ago, I served as the chairman of the KS Committee on video black boxes and navigation at the National Institute of Standards and Technology for over 10 years, and have promoted the development and distribution of pedal black boxes to related companies.

This is because, at the time, it was technically difficult to apply and had various problems such as mounting location, so it was not commercialized and has continued to this day.

Since the position of the driver's feet is the most important piece of evidence proving innocence in the event of a sudden acceleration accident, the existence of a pedal black box can be an important solution.

Recent technological advancements have allowed many companies to secure pedal black boxes or pedal channels.

The opportunity to install a pedal black box has opened up.

It can be used as the only evidence that can prove that there was a sudden acceleration accident and that it was not your own driving mistake.

If you can prove your innocence, the rest can definitely go down to a defect in the car, which can be proven to be the responsibility of the car manufacturer.

Of course, there are currently several solutions to sudden acceleration in cars.

This is a method in which automobile manufacturers install a so-called 'kill program' that automatically shuts down all functions of the automobile when conditions for sudden acceleration are identified through a software program that is safer in advance as a preventive measure.

And it can be said that it is a way to correct the tilted playing field by minimally improving domestic related laws that were unilateral as a post-facto method.

The final method is to install a pedal black box so that the driver can secure strong objective evidence.

Realistically, installing a pedal black box is an active method that can be done immediately, so drivers can choose to install it among several models.

As this trend has grown recently, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the competent department, has also recommended installing pedal black boxes.

This can be said to be a part that confirms that the times are changing and that active measures are needed in response.

Recently, some automobile manufacturers have stated that the installation of pedal black boxes is not necessary, which has caused controversy.

The reason is that since there are car accident recorders, installing a pedal black box is not helpful.

This is a serious claim and completely misguided.

On the contrary, the manufacturer can actively exclude installation and verify that there are no problems with their vehicle, thereby proving the innocence of their vehicle.

On the contrary, it is interpreted as meaning that they will not leave behind any cases that could serve as evidence.

It is also incomprehensible why the manufacturer would insist on stating that the driver will actively defend himself at his own expense.The Tao is not understood.

Instead, manufacturers should encourage and support the installation of pedal black boxes to ensure accountability.

Recently, one domestic manufacturer has started to release a new car with the system installed in advance, which we see as very positive.

Because if one manufacturer installs it, it is certain that all manufacturers will install it.

The problem of sudden acceleration in automobiles has been a source of controversy for the past 40 years, and has resulted in countless deaths.

I am confident that the installation of pedal black boxes will be the starting point in terms of making it a good example for both the car manufacturer and the driver, if it can be transparently proven and verified.