Vehicle Data Collection and Event
Data Recorders
Your vehicle, like other modern motor vehicles,
has a number of sophisticated computer
systems that monitor and control several
aspects of the vehicle’s performance. Your
vehicle uses on-board vehicle computers
to monitor emission control components to
optimize fuel economy, to monitor conditions
for airbag deployment and, if the vehicle
has the Anti-lock Brake System (ABS), to
provide anti-lock braking and to help the
driver control the vehicle in difficult driving
situations. Some information may be stored
during regular operations to facilitate repair
of detected malfunctions; other information
is stored only in a crash event by computer
systems, such as those commonly called
Event Data Recorders (EDR).
In a crash event, computer systems, such as the
airbag Sensing and Diagnostic Module (SDM)
in your vehicle may record information about
the condition of the vehicle and how it was
operated, such as data related to engine speed,brake application, throttle position, vehicle
speed, safety belt usage, airbag readiness,
airbag performance, and the severity of a
collision. This information has been used to
improve vehicle crash performance and may
be used to improve crash performance of future
vehicles and driving safety. Unlike the data
recorders on many airplanes, these on-board
systems do not record sounds, such as
conversation of vehicle occupants.
To read this information, special equipment
is needed and access to the vehicle or
the device that stores the data is required.
GM will not access information about a crash
event or share it with others other than:
with the consent of the vehicle owner or,
if the vehicle is leased, with the consent
of the lessee,
in response to an official request of police
or similar government office,
as part of GM’s defense of litigation
through the discovery process, or
as required by law.
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