Memorandum U.S. Department of Transportation National Highway Traffic Safety Administration 'L-k,v,'3 3 SubJect Submittal of the Final Report of the NHTSA R&D Event Date 8/30/200 1 Data Recorder (EDR) Working Group to Docket TSA-99-5218 - dl Fr#rg&in&,-PheAssociate Administrator for Research and Development TO: The Docket THRU: John Womack Acting Chief Counsel Attached is the Final Report of the NHTSA Research and Development Event Data Recorder (EDR) Working Group. This report was circulated within NHTSA and has received concurrence for publication. Research and Development requests that this report be placed in the public docket. Attachment SAFETY BELTS SAVE LIVES AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE (800) 424-9393 EVENT DATA RECORDERS SUMMARY OF FINDINGS by the NHTSA EDR Working Group August 2001 Final Report This publication is distributed by the U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in the interests of information exchange. The opinions and findings expressed in this publication are those of the working group members and not necessarily those of the Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The United States Government assumes no liability for its content or use thereof. Trade and manufacturers’ name and products are mentioned because they are considered essential to the object of the publication and should not be construed as an endorsement. The United States Government does not endorse products or manufacturers. 11 Table of Contents ... Table of Contents ..................................................................................................................................... List of Figures ................................................................................................................................................ Acronyms ......................................................................................................................................................... vii Executive Summary ................................................................................................................................ x 1.0 Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Objectives of Working Group .................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Participants .............................................................................................................................................. 2 1.3 Fact Finding Effort ............................................................................................................................. 3 1.4 Public Documentation Process ................................................................................................... 4 1.5 Meetings ..................................................................................................................................................... 4 1.5.1 October 2, 1998 ............................................................................................................................................ 4 1S.2 February 17, 1999 ........................................................................................................................................ 4 1.5.3 June 9, 1999.................................................................................................................................................. 4 1S.4 October 6, 1999 ............................................................................................................................................ 4 1S.5 February 2, 2000 .......................................................................................................................................... 5 1S.6 June 7, 2000 .................................................................................................................................................. 5 1S.7 December 6, 2000 ......................................................................................................................................... 5 2.0 Background ..................................................................................................................................... 6 2.1 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Activities ................................ 6 2.1.1 Early Event Data Recorders ....................................................................................................................... 6 2.1.2 Jet Propulsion Laboratory Report ............................................................................................................. 6 2.1.3 Petitions for Rulemaking ............................................................................................................................ 6 2.1.4 Automatic Collision Notification Systems ................................................................................................. 7 2.1.5 R&D on Quantitative Properties of the Relationship between Speeding, Aggressive Driving, and Crash Risk .................................................................................................................................................................... 8 2.1.5.1 Participants .................................................................................................................................................. 8 2.152 Equipment Package ............................................................................................................................ 2.1.5.3 System Functionality ................................................................................................................................... 9 2.2 Commercial Highway Vehicle Activities Related to Data Recorders .......... 10 2.2.1 Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Activities Related to Data Recorders ......................... 10 2.2.2 American Trucking Associations Activities Under the Technical and Maintenance Council ............ 11 2.3 National Transportation Safety Board Activities ....................................................... 12 2.3.1 National Transportation Safety Board Recommendations Related to EDRs ....................................... 12 2.3.2 On-Board Recorders in Other Modes of Transportation ...................................................................... 12 2.3.2.1 Aviation ...................................................................................................................................................... 12 2.3.2.2 Rail .............................................................................................................................................................. 13 2.3.2.3 Marine ........................................................................................................................................................ 13 2.4 Event Data Recorder Issues - One State’s Perspective .......................................... 13 2.5 Other EDR Related Activities .................................................................................................. 15 2.5.1 European EDR Activity ............................................................................................................................ 15 2.5.1.1 Preventive Effects of Event Data Recorders ........................................................................................... 16 2.5.1.2 Collision Clarification with Event Data Recorder / Research Findings ............................................... 17 2.5.1.3 Demands on Road Safety Policy ............................................................................................................... 18 2.5.2 Event Data Recorders and School Buses in the United States ............................................................... 19 2.5.3 Other Background Information ............................................................................................................... 19 111 2.5.3.1 Recent Dissertation Citing a Short History of EDR Initiatives ............................................................. 19 2.5.3.2 OTA Assessment ........................................................................................................................................ 20 2.5.3.3 Using EDRs to Promote Seat Belt Use ..................................................................................................... 20 3.0 Status of EDR Technology ............................................................................................. 21 3.1 Overview .................................................................................................................................................. 21 3.2 Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) Systems ............................................... 21 3.2.1 Summary of OEM Systems ....................................................................................................................... 21 3.2.2 GM EDR Technology ................................................................................................................................ 26 3.2.2.1 Evolution of GM Event Data Recording .................................................................................................. 26 3.2.2.2 Technical Description of the Event Data Recording Process ................................................................. 27 3.2.3 Ford Motor Company ..............................................................................................................................