Statistics showed that in the year 2013, about 96 percent of vehicle manufactured in the United States has an Event Data Recorder (EDR). The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2014, mandated all vehicles to have one.
An EDR functions like a BlackBox in an airplane. Vehicle crash is the most potential danger that is caused by the road. The EDR has made it possible to secure lives and property from fatal accidents while on the road.
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What Is An Event Data Recorder (EDR)?
An EDR is a tiny device or instrument within a vehicle that documents or records car accident-related information. The EDR begins recording car accident information 2-5 seconds before, during, and after the occurrence.
The kinds of data recorded by the EDR include vehicle dynamics, driver inputs, system status, as well as restraint use. The EDR doesn’t, however, record video or audio information.
Most EDRs are designed with a preset option to record data in a continuous loop, thereby overwriting information continuously until the vehicle collides with another or something else. Five seconds of data is recorded as soon as an accident happens.
The original duty of the EDR was to track and monitor airbag deployment in a car crash. Tweaking on the device has, however, enabled it to do more than monitoring airbag deployment. It has become very crucial in car accident issues.
Location Of The EDR
The Event Data Recorder is a member of the vehicle control module for the occupants’ restraint systems including airbags, and seatbelt pre-tensioners. The location of the EDR differs from vehicle to vehicle. However, it is naturally found under the seats, in the center tunnel, or underneath the dashboard.
How Is The Data Retrieved?
Bosch crash Data Retrieval (CDR) tool is utilized to recover data from the EDR. The CDR tool is made up of software as well as hardware that is capable of downloading the data that may be captured in the vehicle’s airbag control module.
The downloaded data comes in the form of a code. It is then converted into a graphical readable form by the CDR software. Reports have it that about 88 percent of the vehicles produced in 2016 and beyond, are backed or supported by the CDR tool. It is advisable that an expert should do data removal. This is because if the module us removed carelessly, the data might be destroyed.
Benefits Of The EDR
There are several benefits of using the Event Data Recorder, and some of the benefits include the following.
- Storage Of Car Crash Data
The EDR comes into effective use when it detects any problem in the engine or any spontaneous change in the speed of the wheels. As soon as an accident is about to happen, usually a few seconds before, the camera integrated into the EDR as well as the GPS begins to take a record of the accident. The data is then stored.
This benefits in the investigation of the events leading to the cause of car crashes and can help to forestall future occurrences by learning from the things the EDR points out.
- Retrieving Of Data
The EDR doesn’t just store data relating to accidents alone. The data is also retrievable by those who have adequate knowledge of vehicles and their parts. Data can be retrieved by connecting the device to an On-Board Diagnostic (OBD) port of the vehicle.
This OBD port is that part of the vehicle that recognizes that something is wrong with the vehicle in relation to parts being faulty and relates the information to the vehicle owner or repairer. This is the second step in aiding the investigation relating to a car crash or accident.
- Helps To Ensure Safety
When the data from the EDR is analyzed, it helps vehicle owners as well as the government to formulate policy regarding car maintenance, driving, or other road facilities to reduce the number of crashes on the road.
To Wrap It Up
The EDR was not originally designed for investigative purposes but safety. As the government begins to enforce laws regarding EDRs, insurance companies will begin using it as a basis in which the premiums for drivers will be determined. Its increasing popularity will help to balance public safety and privacy.