“Black Box” Reduces Traffic Accidents is the article’s title. To veer off onto an entirely different direction, I have to say that I’ve been playing Chrono Trigger too much. When I read “black box,” I immediately thought these taxis had those sealed black chests, and I nearly yelled WTF.

But after I read the article, I did yell WTF. These so called black boxes are the following:

[S]ophisticated surveillance cameras, on top of rear view mirrors to record conversations with passengers. The gadgets also record the speed and driving records of the vehicles, providing decisive data for the settlements of disputes over car accidents.

Experts say the device, which records sight and sound, will help prevent crime and keep cabbies from driving wildly or violating traffic rules.

It also records driving data such as speed, use of the accelerator and brake pedals and Global Positioning System (GPS) information to the hundredth of a second.

Personally, I can see why these are needed in the cabs. However, at the same time, I do not want my conversations with friends to be recorded on these without our permission! Yes, Korean driver — especially cab drivers — can be quite insane when they are at the wheels, so these black boxes would come in handy to see which drivers need to go back to Driving Safety 101 or be stripped of their permit. But as a customer, it doesn’t really make me happy to know that I am being recorded like that. I guess when I ride cabs with friends from now on, I better keep my trap shut.

Aughhh. Big Brother is definitely going to be watching and hearing me!