Abstract
Black boxes have proved invaluable in determining the causes of airplane crashes. The data they provide is an indispensable help for the training of pilots and tool for the designers of airplanes. Both aspects contribute to safety. The same effect of improved safety applies for vehicle recording systems (VRS) in road transport. This paper presents two VRS (tachograph and accident data recorder) and highlights their contribution to road safety based on many years of experience. The paper also outlines how VRS improves the performance of drivers and commercial vehicles to optimise the supply chain and also sketches how VRS can be used as platforms for telematic applications.