Car insurance claims could be processed more smoothly and accurately if modern vehicles came equipped with airplane-style black box recorders, a leading driving authority has said.

The director of policy for the Institute of Advanced Motoring, Neil Greig, said it was their view that using the advanced technology in cars would have a range of benefits both to drivers and insurance companies.

Mr Greig said the key impediment, however, was finding how to manage it in a cost-effective way.

"The presence of such devices would make it easier to establish details following minor accidents and collisions, helping to avoid simple errors which often complicate insurance claims," he said.

"They could also be installed by the court system as a means of monitoring people with histories of driving while uninsured."

He did caution, however, that its usefulness would have limits and it is not just a magic elixir for bad driving. He added, "There is no real evidence that knowing you have a black box makes you a better driver".



Mr Greig's comments come in response to recent news that Intel is developing a new type of intelligent car technology. The monitoring devices would detect potholes and street signs, and would have a black box system built in to their operation systems.

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