Black box mandatory for cars from 2024
Data recording with Event Data Recorder before and after an accident
Contribution from the ADAC: Aircraft have a black box that can be used to read events before and shortly after a crash. A similar device is also used in cars: the event data recorder (EDR) records a short period of time before and after a crash. Many vehicles are already equipped with an EDR, and from July 7, 2024, the black box will be mandatory for all newly registered vehicles.
The ADAC provides an overview of what EDR can do and how it handles data protection.
The purpose of the EDR is to gain a better understanding of an accident by recording data. The EDR is usually installed in the airbag control unit, as this is where all relevant information from acceleration sensors convergesโthis information is also used to trigger data recording by the EDR.
Data such as speed, engine speed, steering angle, and whether the airbag was deployed are recorded. Recording is triggered in a time window of five seconds before and 300 milliseconds after the crash.
The data is stored locally in the vehicle and remains there. ย Using specific tools, it can be read out via the OBD interface or directly from the airbag control unit. Under data protection law, the driver or owner has sovereignty over the data stored in the EDR. However, in order to find out how an accident occurred in connection with civil or criminal proceedings, a court or public prosecutor's office may commission an expert to read out the data from the EDR.
However, the data from the EDR should not be used as the sole source for accident reconstruction. Rather, it serves as an additional element to the evidence at the accident site and the damage to the vehicles involved. It can therefore support conventional accident reconstruction, but cannot replace it. The EDR only stores data about the vehicle itself and not about other road users. It also cannot be used to make video recordings.
Text: ADAC Image credits: Harleysite
