Event Data Recorder

Most modern cars have an Event Data Recorder (EDR), normally contained within the airbag control module. This provides a function somewhat similar to the familiar “black box” flight recorder which stores data relating to aircraft incidents. In the event of a collision, the EDR will record information about what the car was doing at that time of the collision and up to 5 seconds prior to the collision.

The information recorded by an EDR varies from car to car, but where information is available it generally includes vehicle speed, engine speed, whether the brake pedal or accelerator was being applied, steering inputs and whether the seatbelts were in use.

We are qualified to use the Bosch CDR (Crash Data Retrieval) system to obtain data from many cars. Data is not available from all makes and models of car using this system, but coverage is increasing all the time. For example, every model of Toyota and Lexus cars are covered in Ireland and Northern Ireland since 2007. Contact us with the make, model and registration number of the car or cars involved, to find out whether we can obtain EDR data for you.