Applying Automotive EDR Data to Traffic Crash Reconstruction Virtual Pre-Conference Certification

EDR\'s were first installed in 1994 and are now installed in 99% of new light vehicles sold in the US. In the US EDR’s are not required, but vehicles with EDR’s made after 9/1/2012 must meet minimum standardized content requirements of 49 CFR, Part 563 including speed, throttle, brake on/off and Delta V. Data must be retrievable with a publicly available tool. Only a few manufacturers install EDR’s worldwide currently, but the EU and China are adopting regulations to require them in the next few years. Some manufacturers provide stability control system data far beyond the US regulation that aid in understanding vehicle movement in the 5 seconds prior to the crash. This course will provide the participant with the skills necessary to analyze EDR data that has already been imaged, apply it to crash reconstruction, and reconcile it with calculations using other data sources. The course will enable the participant to analyze current and potential future EDR data set without regard to manufacturer. The class presents the generic analysis step by step, then groups EDRs into manufacturer-specific families and their data limitations, and works case studies that highlight targeted key learning objectives. The student will also learn key points to satisfy court Frye and Daubert requirements for EDR data to be admissible, and suggest methods to present EDR data that will communicate the data understandably to attorneys and lay juries.

This course has been approved by the Accreditation Commission for Traffic Accident Reconstruction (ACTAR) for 20 Continuing Education Units (CEUs). Upon completion of this seminar, accredited reconstructionists should mail a copy of their course certificate and the $5 student CEU fee to ACTAR, PO Box 1493, North Platte, NE 69103.

• Describe EDR sensor operation, recording interval and duration, resolution, accuracy, and time latency and articulate the limitations of applying the data to crash analysis
• Calculate min and max speeds prior to loss of control or braking, and at impact based on the last accurate EDR pre-crash speed data point
• Evaluate EDR vs. actual ground speed for specific vehicle operational conditions and vehicle equipment modifications
• Calculate speed at impact and closing speeds by combining EDR Delta V data with normally collected scene and vehicle data such as post crash travel distance, departure angle, drag factor, and vehicle weights
• Apply data to inline rear end, head on, and angular collisions
• Reconcile EDR data with other physical evidence and combine to narrow speed ranges
• Use time-distance and overlay EDR data on scene maps/diagrams to show where critical driving inputs were made vs. inputs required to avoid collisions