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Electronic Control Modules (ECM) on Heavy Duty truck engines have the ability to control or monitor important engine and vehicle parameters. Examples of these parameters are fuel consumption, cruise control operation and oil pressure. Under certain conditions, many can also record parameters that are useful in accident reconstruction. Cummins engines are commonly found on highway tractors on the road today. In a heavy vehicle equipped with a Cummins engine, a hard brake application or a collision with an object can create a Sudden Deceleration Data (SDD) Report on the ECM. Since this data reports second-by-second speed information, it can be very useful in the analysis of an accident. Establishing the reliability of this information is important, if it is to be used by an accident investigator. This paper explores the data recorded on a Cummins engine ECM created during a series of acceleration, cruising, and braking tests.

Heavy duty truck and engine manufacturers have been installing various forms of electronic Event Data Recorders (EDRs) on their products over the past decade, the most common being the Electronic Control Module (ECM). The primary purpose of the ECM is to control electrical and mechanical systems on the engine. As well, it monitors other vehicle systems. The ECM stores data in a manner that allows reports to be generated that aid fleet managers to monitor the performance of their equipment and that assist mechanics to diagnose problems. Some of the data in these reports can be of value in accident investigation and analysis even though these reports may not have been originally intended for this purpose. This paper discusses the specifics of data collection from the various ECMs and the reliability of such data when used for the purposes of accident analysis based on testing.