eMVee Consulting, Inc.

Many later model Ford, Chrysler, GM, and Toyota vehicles are equipped with an event data recorder (EDR) that is able to store crash data that can be useful in the reconstruction of a collision.  This crash data can be stored within the airbag control module (ACM), powertrain control module (PCM) or the rollover sensor (ROS).  While the actual data available for download depends on the vehicle in question, some examples of crash information are:

• Pre-impact speed
• Throttle position before the crash
• Brake status before the crash
• Seatbelt status (on or off)
• Change in velocity

Many of the newer vehicles are able to provide far more information in far greater detail:

• Vehicle speed (mph)
• Accelerator pedal position (%)
• Engine throttle (%)
• Brake switch status (on/off)
• ABS status (active/inactive)
• Transmission status (neutral/not neutral and reverse/not reverse)
• Cruise control status (on/off)
• Engine revolutions per minute (rpm)
• Traction and stability control status (active/inactive)

This data can be available for a duration of up to 20 seconds before a deployment event and 5 seconds after, sampled every 0.2 seconds (5 Hz)!

This detailed information can be invaluable in evaluating events that occurred in the seconds leading up to a collision, or driving patterns prior to a crash, which may not have been addressed using typical reconstruction techniques.  Detailed time/distance charts, as shown below, can be created in order to depict this data in a visual manner:

eMVee Consulting is proud to offer its clients download of the crash data for supported vehicles, when available, for no additional charge during our inspection of such vehicles.

Please click here for a list of supported vehicles.