1 Crash recorders – opening up the box Anders Kullgren Head of road traffic safety research at Folksam

2 Why crash recorders? Potential applications Different types of recorders / running crash recorder projects Examples of results Summary Crash recorders - content

3 Benefits of using crash recorders Increased quality of accident data –Increased accuracy of data –Possibility to use information previously not possible to obtain Better evaluation of new safety technology Knowledge of injury thresholds for the design of a crashworthy road transport system Better understanding of injury causes and injury mechanisms Influence on accident involvement risk? Useful from legal aspects (insurance) Information used for e-Callsystems

4 Some applications Pre-crash data to investigate collision causation – Evaluation of active safety systems Crash data to investigate crashworthiness – Evaluation of interior safety systems – Calculate injury risk versus impact severity Accident reconstruction minor injuries AIS1+ (n=278) moderate injuries AIS2+ (n=72) serious injuries AIS3+ (n=18) 0 0,2 0,4 0,6 0, Risk Mean acceleration (g) N=452

5 Furhter applications Linking laboratory to real-life crashes –Reconstruction of occupant kinematics using advanced occupant simulation codes with real-life data, such as crash pulse and car characteristics, as input –Calculate injury risk functions and injury tolerance levels –Validation of injury criteria

6 Types of crash recorders Purpose of the recorder –Research –Legal aspects and accident involvement Pre crash, crash and post crash data Type of parameters recorded –Performance of the car –Crash severity –Driver behaviour

7 Examples of running large fleet projects Since 1990s - GM and Ford cars (more advanced in late 90s) Since Volvo DARR in Volvo cars – approx cars fitted Other manufacturers, Saab etc… Since Folksam CPR project cars fitted with Crash Pulse Recorders Since UDS in Austria, Switzerland and Germany…

8 Storage and availability of data Important that such data can be available for research purposes Important for designers of both road infra- structure and cars Who will have access to the data?

9 Some examples of results from the Folksam crash recorder database Example of crash Exposure data Injury risk Evaluation of safety technology (airbag)

10 Toyota Yaris – Saab 900 (old) Minor injuries (clav. fracture) Driver + front seat pass. fatally injured

11 Number of crashes and injured - Delta-V

12 Injury risk - Delta-V

13 Influence of airbags on risk of whiplash injury in frontal impacts (1999 figures)

14 Summary Crash recorders are important –for evaluation of new safety technology –to get knowledge of injury thresholds for the design of a crashworthy road transport system Important to encourage initiatives where data can be available for research institutes and governmental bodies

15 Wider use A wider use of crash recorders or event data recorders is desirable. A mandatory fitment of such devices would help but is not necessary. It is important to ensure that data from recorders will be collected and stored in such a way that it is available to designers of both cars and road-side objects, and especially to the responsible bodies for the road transport system.