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The use of the United States’ Global Positioning System (GPS) to assist with the management of large commercial fleets using telematics is becoming commonplace. Telematics generally refers to the use of wireless devices to transmit data in real time back to an organization. When tied to the GPS system telematics can be used to track fleet vehicle movements, and other parameters. GPS tracking can assist in developing more efficient and safe operations by refining and streamlining routing and operations. GPS based fleet telematics data is also useful for reducing unnecessary engine idle times and minimizing fuel consumption. Driver performance and policy adherence can be monitored, for example by transmitting data regarding seatbelt usage when there is vehicle movement. Despite the advantages for fleet management, there are limitations in the logged data for position and speed that may affect the utility of the system for analysis and reconstruction of traffic collisions. The U.S.

The Daimler Detroit AssuranceⓇ 4.0 collision mitigation system is able to assist a driver in various aspects of safely operating their vehicle. One capability is the Active Brake Assist (ABA), which uses the Video Radar Decision Unit (VRDU) to communicate with the front bumper-mounted radar to provide information about potential hazards to the driver. The VRDU may warn the driver of potential hazards and apply partial or full braking, depending on the data being gathered and analyzed. The VRDU also records event data when an ABA event occurs. This data may be extracted from the VRDU using Detroit DiagnosticLink software. This paper presents an overview of the VRDU functionality and examines aspects of VRDU data such as the range and resolution of data elements, the synchronicity or timing of the recorded data, and application of the data for use in the analysis of crashes.