Accident! Can I get to the black box data?

I became curious about this, so I rode the elevator into the parking garage to get the owner manual. I didn't have to read too far to come across this blurb on p.64:

"Your vehicle is equipped with a crash sensing and diagnostic module, which will record the use of the seat belt restraint system by the driver and passenger when the SRS front airbags are inflated."

Kind of vague, it implies that if the airbags don't deploy, no data is recorded. However, it wouldn't hurt to mention the Prius does have such a module.

With so much insurance fraud out there, and dumb drivers too, I bet we'll soon need front and rear video cameras that continuously record to SD cards. They can overwrite every 10-20 mins or so, so immediately after an accident or incident you eject the SD card and let the cops play it back.

My condo has continuous digital video recording in all public areas, including the sidewalks around the building. There have been some cases where intoxicated pedestrians have tossed a beer bottle through a window, setting off the security alarms.

Kind of neat how the next day, the local news channels have a bright, clear blow-up captioned "Do you know this person?" They never get away with it for long.

We also had a weird resident here that had something against one of the other residents. Keyed up his car pretty bad, so they immediately accessed the underground parkade images and proved he did it. He moved out shortly after.

I even get jokes from the building office here about how often they get to watch me pull my Prius into the wash bay, get out, scratch my butt, and start washing it.

The car, that is. Not my butt.

 

Ah, I see the problem. Site has frames, so my search for Toyota went to the side frame. Selected the article body, and Toyota was found.

 

Reminds me when a lady was forced into my 88 Honda Accord. I was waiting for oncoming traffice to allow me to make a left into my home street. All of a sudden, WHAM. My first thoughts? How in the world did she hit me, I saw her stop behind me.

Then we found a large person driving a big SUV admitted to not paying attention, and slammed her into me. His insurance paid. Funny thing is, about 2 years later, I was asked to attend a review to testify on the situation. Why? He admitted fault, his insurance acknowledged it, her car was pretty smashed up at both ends. Why the investigation now?

 

Grr... I hate stuff like this...

Almost all rear-ender accidents are caused by people being morons and not allowing enough space for the car in front of them.

Remember the old saying, 1 car length for every 10mph?

Very, very few people leave that much distance...

Dave

 

It iis impossible to leave one car length for every 10mph where I live. People constantly cut into that safety space with their behemoths and ratchet you back as you compensate. When I can't see over, under, around or through the car in front of me to two cars ahead it endangers me and my passengers. I had some prick do just this while on her cell phone and swatting at the kids in her back seat, not notice that traffic was stopped in front of her unsafe 'cut in' and ram the car in front of her without even touching her brakes. Since I couldn't see in front of her I too ran into her and in my state the car in back of you pays for the damage to the car in front. In this 3 car chain collision I was the last car and my truck was totaled and no one had any responsibility to pay for it, and I had absolutely no warning that she was crashing.

 

Just crashed my 2004 Prius.... Wash DC Metro area. Fortunately i'm unhurt. Curious to know where you've had your bodywork done. Looking for suggestions...
thanks.