Use of Event Data Recorder (EDR) Technology for Highway Crash Data Analysis (2005)

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iii Table of Contents Table of Contents .............................................................................................................. iii List of Figures ................................................................................................................. viii List of Tables ..................................................................................................................... ix Acknowledgements............................................................................................................ xi Abstract............................................................................................................................. xii 1. Introduction................................................................................................................ 1 1.1 Research Problem Statement: ......................................................................... 1 1.2 Objectives and Scope ........................................................................................ 1 1.3 Research Approach........................................................................................... 2 1.3.1 Survey of EDR Literature and Current Practices........................................ 2 1.3.2 Determine Existing and Potential Future EDR Data Elements .................. 2 1.3.3 Identify and Prioritize EDR Data Needs..................................................... 3 1.3.4 Current methods for retrieval, storage, and subsequent use of EDR Data . 4 1.3.5 Interim Report............................................................................................. 5 1.3.6 Recommendations for improved retrieval, storage, and use of EDR data.. 5 1.3.7 Final Report ................................................................................................ 5 2. Existing and Potential EDR Data Elements ............................................................. 6 2.1 Approach ........................................................................................................... 6 2.2 Automaker EDR Data Elements...................................................................... 7 2.2.1 General Motors ........................................................................................... 7 2.2.2 Ford Motor Company ............................................................................... 12 2.2.3 Other Automakers..................................................................................... 15 2.2.4 Estimated Number of EDRs in Production Vehicles................................ 15 2.2.5 List of Existing Data Elements Recorded by OEMs in Production Vehicles 16 2.3 Diagnostic Parameters Accessible from the OBD-II Port........................... 18 2.4 Heavy Truck EDR Data Elements................................................................. 20 2.5 EDR Standards Groups.................................................................................. 21 2.5.1 The Need for an EDR Standard ................................................................ 21 2.5.2 Status of Standards Activities ................................................................... 21 2.5.3 SAE J1698 Data Elements ........................................................................ 22 2.6 Government Regulatory Requirements........................................................ 24 2.7 Data Elements in Automated Crash Notification Systems.......................... 29 2.8 Data Elements from Aftermarket Event Data Recorders........................... 30 2.9 Longer-term, Technically Feasible, Data Elements..................................... 32

iv 2.10 Summary of Existing and Potential EDR Data Elements ........................... 33 2.11 Conclusions...................................................................................................... 38 2.12 References........................................................................................................ 41 3. EDR Data Needs for Roadside Safety Analyses: Identification and Prioritization 43 3.1 Objective .......................................................................................................... 43 3.2 Methodology .................................................................................................... 43 3.3 Literature Review of Roadside Safety Data Needs ...................................... 44 3.4 Examination of Existing Accident Databases............................................... 52 3.4.1 Classification Methodology ...................................................................... 53 3.4.2 FARS......................................................................................................... 55 3.4.3 NASS/CDS ............................................................................................... 59 3.4.4 NASS/GES................................................................................................ 61 3.4.5 HSIS.......................................................................................................... 63 3.4.6 Longitudinal Barrier Special Study (LBSS) ............................................. 64 3.4.7 Model Minimum Uniform Crash Criteria (MMUCC).............................. 66 3.4.8 NHTSA Vehicle Crash Test Database Protocol (VEHDB)...................... 67 3.4.9 NCHRP Report 350 Roadside Feature Performance Test Elements ........ 68 3.4.10 NCHRP 22-15 Recommended NASS/CDS Data Elements ..................... 70 3.4.11 Trucks Involved in Fatal Accidents (TIFA).............................................. 70 3.4.12 Motor Carrier Management Information System (MCMIS) – Crash File 72 3.4.13 Accident Database Needs vs. EDR Data Element Availability................ 73 3.5 Summary of Data Elements which could be collected by EDRs................. 74 3.6 Prioritization of EDR Data Elements for Roadside Safety Analysis.......... 77 3.6.1 Approach................................................................................................... 77 3.6.2 Results....................................................................................................... 78 3.6.3 Findings..................................................................................................... 78 3.7 Recommended EDR Data Elements.............................................................. 85 3.8 Recommendations for EDR Enhancement................................................... 88 3.9 Conclusions...................................................................................................... 90 3.10 References........................................................................................................ 92 4. EDR Retrieval and Archival Methods: Current Methods, Limitations, and Issues 97 4.1 Introduction..................................................................................................... 97 4.2 EDR Data Retrieval Methods and Issues...................................................... 97 4.2.1 Vetronix Crash Data Retrieval System..................................................... 97 4.2.2 NHTSA Experience with EDR Data Retrieval....................................... 100 4.2.3 Interviews with NASS Field Accident Investigators .............................. 103

v 4.3 Exporting EDR Data to Accident Databases: Issues and Recommendations 106 4.3.1 Need for Automated Method to Export EDR Data to Accident Databases 106 4.3.2 Recommendation .................................................................................... 107 4.4 EDR Data Archival Methods ....................................................................... 108 4.4.1 Current EDR Data Archival Methods..................................................... 108 4.5 Recommendations for a Standardized EDR Database.............................. 110 4.5.1 Recommended EDR Database Format ................................................... 110 4.5.2 Standalone EDR file Archive.................................................................. 116 4.6 Conclusions.................................................................................................... 116 4.7 References...................................................................................................... 118 5. Legal Issues Surrounding the Implementation and Use of Event Data Recorders 119 5.1 Conclusions.................................................................................................... 119 5.2 Background ................................................................................................... 120 5.3 Regulatory Authority and Use and Collection of EDR Data .................... 123 5.3.1 May the Federal Government Require Manufacturers to Install EDRs? 124 5.3.2 What Authority Permits the NHTSA and the Various State Departments of Transportation to Include EDR Information in their own State Databases? .......... 127 5.4 What Limitations do Private Parties Face When Attempting to Use the Information Contained in EDR? ............................................................................. 130 5.4.1 May private parties obtain the data contained in EDRs without the consent of the vehicle owner as part of discovery in preparation for trial? ......................... 130 5.4.2 May private parties, such as insurance adjusters, private attorneys, and researchers, obtain the data contained in the EDR at the scene of the accident or through pre-trial discovery without the consent of the vehicle owner?.................. 135 5.4.3 May Private Parties Obtain and Use EDR Data when Unrelated to Trial Discovery? .............................................................................................................. 136 5.5 Does the search of an automobile to obtain the information contained in an EDR raise a Fourth Amendment Question? .......................................................... 137 5.5.1 May police officers seize EDR data during post-accident investigations without a warrant?................................................................................................... 138 5.5.2 Do car owners have reasonable expectation of privacy in EDR devices as a component of their automobile? ............................................................................. 138 5.5.3 Does a car owner have a reasonable expectation of privacy in the telemetry data provided by EDR devices?.............................................................. 142 5.5.4 Wireless Communications and Electronically Stored Data .................... 145 5.6 May police officers obtain the data without the owner’s consent after obtaining a warrant for both criminal and non-criminal investigations? ........... 148 5.6.1 May police officers seize EDR information without a warrant? ............ 148 5.6.2 Additional Considerations Regarding the Use of EDR Data.................. 155

vi 5.7 The Fifth Amendment and EDRs................................................................ 156 5.8 The Federal Rules of Evidence and the Use of EDR Data at Trial .......... 158 5.8.1 The Daubert Test..................................................................................... 159 5.8.2 EDRs and the Daubert Evidence Admissibility Test.............................. 160 5.9 Conclusion ..................................................................................................... 162 6. Public Acceptability of Event Data Recorders ...................................................... 164 6.1 Background ................................................................................................... 164 6.2 Consumer Survey.......................................................................................... 164 6.2.1 Research Method .................................................................................... 165 6.2.2 Analysis of the Data................................................................................ 165 6.2.3 Summary of Survey Results.................................................................... 171 6.3 Focus Groups................................................................................................. 171 6.3.1 Focus Group Study Leader ..................................................................... 171 6.3.2 Subjects ................................................................................................... 172 6.3.3 Format ..................................................................................................... 172 6.3.4 Questions................................................................................................. 173 6.3.5 Qualitative Analysis................................................................................ 175 6.3.6 Discussion of Focus Group Results ........................................................ 180 6.3.7 Summary of Focus Group Results .......................................................... 181 6.4 Conclusions.................................................................................................... 181 6.5 References...................................................................................................... 182 7. Conclusions and Recommendations ..................................................................... 183 7.1 Benefits of Collecting EDR Data ................................................................. 183 7.2 Costs of Collecting EDR Data...................................................................... 184 7.3 Recommendations for EDR Enhancement................................................. 185 7.4 Recommendations for Improved EDR Data Retrieval and Archival Methods...................................................................................................................... 187 7.5 Legal Acceptability of Event Data Recorders ............................................ 188 7.6 Public Acceptability of Event Data Recorders........................................... 189 7.7 Summary........................................................................................................ 190 Appendix A. Consumer Acceptability Study: Survey and Focus Group Questionnaire and Cover Letters................................................................................... A-1 Appendix B. Annotated Bibliography of EDR Data Needs for Roadside Safety Analyses……….............................................................................................................. B-1 Appendix C. CDR-to-XML Converter .................................................................... C-1 Appendix D. Format of the NASS/CDS EDR Tables............................................. D-1 Appendix E. Rowan University EDR Database...................................................... E-1

vii Appendix F. Classification of Existing Accident Databases Using the Modified Haddon Matrix Approach.............................................................................................. F-1