Do You Know About the Event Data Recorder in Your Car?
Photo: The News Wheel
Most drivers aren’t aware that their vehicle has a device inside that’s recording their driving and storing it in the event of a crash. This electronic monitor is called an event data recorder, and car owners should familiarize themselves with what this device does.
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What is an event data recorder?
Essentially, an event data recorder is a “black box” for your car that stores vehicle and driving information. Many newer vehicles have EDRs installed in them that monitor and store information on how a car is functioning at the time of an impact.
EDRs note factors like brake application, vehicle speed, steering angle, seat belt buckling, and air bag deployment. The unit will engage and record this information when a car is in a crash, providing the driver, the authorities, and litigants with data on the vehicle at the time of collision.
This information requires a diagnostic scanner to access and decrypt, so most people don’t have the tools to read their own vehicle’s event data recorded. The Driver Privacy Act of 2015 addressed this and declared that the owner of the vehicle is the owner of data collected by the EDR, so anyone else wanting to access it would need permission or a warrant.
The technology first entered the automotive industry through motorsports in the 1990s, giving engineers data to improve vehicle and track safety. Shortly after, EDRs were voluntarily rolled out in the majority of new consumer vehicles. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration even pushed to make EDRs mandatory in every new vehicle. The organization’s involvement resulted in standards to be created for EDR construction and programming.
If you’re not sure if your vehicle has an event data recorder, consult the owner’s manual.
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The News Wheel is a digital auto magazine providing readers with a fresh perspective on the latest car news. We’re located in the heart of America (Dayton, Ohio) and our goal is to deliver an entertaining and informative perspective on what’s trending in the automotive world. See more articles from The News Wheel.