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 so equipped,
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. If your vehicle is
equipped with StabiliTrak
®
, steering
performance, including yaw rate, steering
wheel angle, and lateral acceleration, is also
recorded. 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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