As is often the case with successful electronic devices, it's difficult to pin down exactly who invented the so called 'Back box'. A good idea is a good idea and, as other scientists and engineers start picking up and developing that concept, it becomes difficult to trace it back to its precise point of origin. Some of the earliest renditions of the Black box can be traced back to the late 1930s and was further developed in the decades to come. The small units were originally placed in aeroplanes in order to track various telemetry data sets and assist with the investigation in the event an accident. Some 75 years later, and we are now starting to use Black box technology in cars in a bid to keep down road traffic accidents and subsequent car insurance and compensation claims.

Many thousands of young drivers across the world are now being issued with Black box recorders as part of their insurance packages to allow them to lower insurance premiums. As the effectiveness of telemetry technology is being tracked, it's becoming apparent that the knowledge of having a Black box on board is causing young people to drive more conscientiously than if it wasn't there. Insurance claims are estimated to be 30% lower if a driver has a Black box installed in his or her vehicle. This statistic was demonstrated by analysing 10,000 insurance claims which were made by young drivers on the Co-operative Insurance label. As shown in the AA British Insurance Premium Index, the average cost of car insurance for someone from the UK and between the ages of 17 and 22 at present is around £2,481. The potential savings being offered by a Black box are quite considerable for young drivers.

Black box technology in cars measures braking, acceleration, cornering and also the times of day when your vehicle is taken out. The data is recorded and is later accessible by insurance companies. The technology was so successful that a number of local police forces, including Nottinghamshire Police, have introduced a number of Black boxes in their police force vehicles. This helped them to settle compensation claims launched against the police. Accidents were reduced too, again showing that officers were driving much more carefully.

Many car accident compensation experts believe that this relatively simple technology will soon be built into many vehicles as standard, or at least be available as an optional extra when buying a car. Insurance brands such as Co-operative Insurance offer their 'Smart Box' package as being a cost-effective option. With such great results on display by Black box technology, it looks like they are here to stay, help keep the roads safe and insurance premiums down for drivers.

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