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| BACKGROUND |
In 1997, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) issued recommendations indicating NHTSA should pursue vehicle crash information gathering using Event Data Recorders (EDR). In mid 2002, NTSB closed this recommendation, indicating NHTSA had fulfilled the requirements of the recommendation. In 1997, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) recommended NHTSA study the feasibility of installing and obtaining crash data for safety analyses from crash recorders on vehicles. In November 1999, the NTSB issued recommendations for NHTSA to mandate installation of EDRs on motorcoaches and school buses and gave specific requirements for the data collection and survivability of the devices. |
| NHTSA ACTIVITIES |
NHTSA’s EDR-related effort has been multi faceted, including sponsoring two working groups (WG), collecting EDR data, developing a Web-based EDR resource tool, sponsoring a EDR round robin test program, and analyzing EDR data. |
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Working Group 1: From 1998 through 2001, NHTSA’s Office of Research and Development sponsored an EDR working group to study EDRs. This group was made up of representatives from government, universities, original equipment manufacturer (OEM) industry, aftermarket, and the general public. The overall objective of the WG was to Facilitate the collection & utilization of collision avoidance and crashworthiness data from on-board Event Data Recorders. The WG’s eight sub-objectives included: status of EDR technology; data elements; data retrieval; data collection and storage; permanent record; privacy and legal issues; customers and uses of EDR data; and demonstration of EDR technology. The WG produced a final report, which was published in August 2001. Several findings were presented. Meeting minutes and handouts distributed at all the EDR WG meetings can be found in docket NHTSA-99-5218. The full report can be found at: http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/pdf/nrd-10/EDR/WkGrp0801.pdf Working Group 2: In 2000, NHTSA formed a second WG specifically targeting larger vehicles, including school buses, motorcoaches and large trucks (T&B EDR). This working group focused on three main areas: data variables, survivability, and the definition of “event.” Detailed data definitions were developed for 28 data elements, classified into three priorities: priority 1, priority 2 and optional. The 13 priority 1 data elements included: acceleration, X (longitudinal), acceleration, Y (lateral), acceleration, Z (vertical), accelerator pedal position, antilock brake system status (ABS), automatic transmission gear selection, belt status (driver), brake status (service pedal, emergency, & trailer), engine RPM, identification, time/date, vehicle speed, and wheel speeds. The final report presents a discussion of EDR survivability and event definition along with research needs and findings. Meeting minutes and handouts distributed at all the EDR WG meetings can be found in docket NHTSA-00-7699. The full report can be found at: http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/pdf/nrd-10/EDR/EDR_TruckBusFINAL.pdf EDR Data Collection: In 2000, NHTSA purchased EDR data retrieval tools for all its investigation teams, including Special Crash Investigations (SCI), National Automotive Sampling System - Crashworthiness Data System (NASS-CDS), and Crash Injury Research and Engineering Network (CIREN). Recently, NHTSA modified its crash data bases to capture EDR data. As of mid 2002, NHTSA had investigated about 300 crashes where EDRs were read. In 2000, NHTSA SCI started a study of advanced occupant restraint systems, cooperating with manufacturers, to investigate the crash protection performance of vehicles equipped with these systems, which has involved collecting and analyzing EDR data. Web-based EDR reference tool: In 2001, NHTSA R&D let a contract to develop an Internet Web based resource tool for EDRs. The tool will catalog literature, reports, and devices in the EDR field, and be accessible on the NHTSA Website. The site presents information in several areas, including research, patents and a bibliography. The direct link to this site is: http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/edr-site/ Round Robin Test: NHTSA’s Vehicle Research and Test Center (VRTC) evaluated several aftermarket EDRs during a barrier crash test. Results of this test program were documented in “Performance of Selected Event Data Recorders.” A copy can be found at: http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/pdf/nrd-10/EDR/EDR-round-robin-Report.pdf EDR Data Analysis: In 2001, NHTSA initiated an engineer analysis of EDR data collected by the crash investigation teams. This work is being performed by Rowan University. As of mid 2002, no results were available. Rulemaking Petitions: NHTSA has received three petitions for rulemaking which request the government to require EDR technology on all new passenger vehicles. The agency denied the first two petitions, “...because the motor vehicle industry is already voluntarily moving in the direction recommended by the petitioner.” Further the agency believed, “....this area presents some issues that are, at least for the present time, best addressed in a non-regulatory context.” (See Federal Register 63 FR 60270 [Nov. 9, 1998] and 64 FR 29616 [June 2, 1999]). The third petition was received in late 2001, and, as of mid 2002, the agency had not made a decision. |
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| PROJECT MANAGER |
John Hinch |
