What is an Event Data Recorder and what is its function?
An Event Data Recorder (EDR) is a function or device installed in a motor vehicle to record technical vehicle and occupant information for a brief period of time (seconds) before, during and after a crash for the purpose of monitoring and assessing vehicle safety system performance. For instance, EDRs may record, pre-crash vehicle dynamics and system status, driver inputs, vehicle crash signature, restraint usage/deployment status and post-crash data such as the activation of an Automatic Collision Notification (ACN) system. What is the difference between an EDR and a “black box”? “EDR” is the term NHTSA has coined to refer to the device commonly installed on motor vehicles to record vehicle technical data for a brief period of time in the event of an accident. In contrast, airplanes, trains and ships use sophisticated recording devices, commonly called black boxes, that record data continuously throughout the operation of the vehicle. They capture much more data than EDRs and, in some
