Last June, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)  submitted for comment proposed rules regarding use of EDRs:

"We are not presently proposing to require the installation of EDRs in any motor vehicles. We are proposing to (1) require that the EDRs voluntarily installed in light vehicles record a minimum set of specified data elements useful for crash investigations, analysis of the performance of safety equipment, e.g., advanced restraint systems and automatic collision notification systems; (2) specify requirements for data format; (3) increase the survivability of the EDRs and their data by requiring that the EDRs function during and after the front, side and rear vehicle crash tests specified in several Federal motor vehicle safety standards; (4) require vehicle manufacturers to make publicly available information that would enable crash investigators to retrieve data from the EDR; and (5) require vehicle manufacturers to include a brief standardized statement in the owner's manual indicating that the vehicle is equipped with an EDR and describing the purpose of EDRs."

The NHTSA is now evaluating the comments before finalizing the regulation. Further information is posted on the NHTSA's EDR site (http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/edr-site/). To read the text of the regulations and comments, go to http://dms.dot.gov/search/searchFormSimple.cfm and entering "18029" as the search term.