Search Results

Modern event data recorders (EDRs) can provide useful information regarding vehicle incidents. EDR information, when used in conjunction with the available physical information, can greatly assist accident analysis and field performance evaluation. This additional source promotes more accurate understanding of crashes, which in turn advances vehicle safety research, and investigations. This paper analyzes the performance of Toyota's EDR, focusing on pre-crash data (vehicle speed, engine speed, brake switch status, and accelerator pedal position sensor #1 voltage) and certain other parameters (front seat belt buckle switch status, driver seat track position, right front occupant status, and gear shift position). The EDR pre-crash data was compared to the data on the High Speed Controller Area Network (HS-CAN) data during eleven test conditions.

Restraint system physical evidence is often examined during crash analysis to understand seat belt system use and effectiveness. As occupant restraint technologies have evolved over the years, the seat belt witness marks that occur in crashes have changed as well. Occupant loading has traditionally been the primary cause of marks on seat belt systems prior to pretensioners and force limiters. This research focused on newer seat belt systems equipped with force limiters and pretensioners, and how those features affect crash-induced witness marks. The front seat occupant seat belt systems studied contained both retractor pretensioners and retractor torsion-type force limiters. The crashes that were analyzed occurred on U.S. roadways where at least one airbag deployed. Distinct marks were located on the retractor, D-ring, latch plate or webbing surfaces resulting from the activation of pretensioners and/or force limiters.