The Use of Event Data Recorders in the Analysis of Real-World Crashes

Abstract

Event data recorders are installed on many latemodel cars and light trucks as an adjunct to air bag sensing and control systems. These devices offer tremendous potential to traffic safety researchers, affording access to a wealth of new data, enabling better understanding of on-road traffic safety issues, and providing opportunities for the development of new and effective countermeasures. The authors report on a series of test programmes and pilot studies of collisions involving vehicles equipped with event data recorders. These include instrumented crash tests which can be used to validate the quantitative results obtained from onboard recorders, and in-depth investigations of realworld collisions where results obtained using standard reconstruction techniques can be compared to the electronic data relating to crash severity. Our current studies also include an evaluation of precrash factors involved in real-world situations, based on in-depth investigation techniques, detailed occupant interviews, and analysis of a variety of pre-crash data elements obtained from event data recorders in collision-involved vehicles.