This report is in response to the FY2000 Senate Appropriations Committee request (the Committee) in Senate Report 106-55, dated May 27, 1999. The Committee requested the agency to work with interested parties to explore a standard of protocol for relevant operational data to be recorded on electronic control modules in trucks, and for access to that data. The Committee believes there are potential benefits of this technology in that it could prove useful to law enforcement investigations of highway crashes. For the purposes of this report, electronic control module is referred to as “event data recorder (EDR),” because in this application the technology is used to gather a variety of vehicle and events data surrounding a crash or near-miss incident when, or just before, it occurs. As the Committee noted in its report, these include data such as vehicle speed, and brake pedal and throttle position. Data is typically recorded continuously over a specified time interval, such as three minutes. The data is then replaced unless an event occurs, in which case the EDR saves the data surrounding the event, such as 30 seconds before and 15 seconds after a crash. Events that trigger the EDR to save such data can include sudden deceleration, air bag deployment, or manual activation by the driver. In response to the Committee’s request, the FMCSA has been and is continuing to work with interested parties to address the issues of concern to the Committee. These include the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the Technology & Maintenance Council (TMC) of the American Trucking Associations, Inc. (ATA), and others from the public and private sectors. Much of the work is being carried out by activities conducted by the following parties: (1) the NHTSA Truck and Bus EDR Working Group, and (2) the TMC Vehicle Event Recording Task Force. The NHTSA Truck and Bus EDR Working Group was formed in June 2000, following two NTSB recommendations urging NHTSA to: (1) Require all school buses and motor coaches manufactured after January 1, 2003, to be equipped with on-board recording systems that record specific vehicle parameters, and (2) develop and implement in co-operation with other government agencies and industry, specific standards for on-board recording of bus crash data. The purpose of this working group is to gather information relative to the NTSB’s recommendations, including the data to be recorded, and access to that data. Participants represent a broad cross-section of interested parties from the highway safety community, including FMCSA representatives. Work is ongoing, and a report summarising the group’s findings is expected to be available in 2002. In 1999, TMC formed its Vehicle Event Recording Task Force. Its objective is to publish a recommended practice, “Vehicle Event Recording,” which addresses EDR technical issues, including data to be recorded and access to that data. Participants include representatives from FMCSA, other government agencies, and industry. The recommended practice has been drafted and is under review as part of the approval process. The scope of the TMC Vehicle Event Recorder Task Force is more limited than that of the NHTSA working group. NHTSA is looking at the universe of data elements that could be beneficial for recording in the event of a crash. In contrast, TMC is addressing only those data elements that are available on all new trucks and truck tractors through the engine control module or its corresponding data bus. The TMC task force is not attempting to define the ultimate EDR for trucks. It is working to provide uniformity to the data already available 100 percent of the time on all new trucks, regardless of make. Based on information gathered to date, the FMCSA has summarised its key findings below: · Technology appears to be available today for monitoring the following parameters on all new trucks and truck tractors: engine brake, brake pedal switch, cruise control, engine speed, engine throttle status, odometer reading, time-date, and vehicle speed. · The following standards of protocol should be considered for controlling access to EDR data: - The vehicle owner at any given time should own the EDR data. - Only the vehicle owner, or another party having the owner’s permission, may access the EDR data.2 Exceptions would include instances where a law enforcement official has a warrant in connection with a crash investigation. - One method of assuring vehicle owner access only is through use of an EDR system password, as specified in the draft TMC Recommended Practice, “Vehicle Event Recording.” - The storage and retrieval of EDR data must protect the privacy rights of individuals in accordance with Federal and State laws. · EDR technology should be viewed as a tool to assist trained crash investigators and not as a substitute for such personnel. · Based on available information, the FMCSA estimates that the number of EDRs in use for the purpose of crash data collection is relatively small. Commercial motor vehicle applications today are focused more toward fleet management. · In addition to helping determine crash causation, there is some research indicating that EDRs may result in reduced crash risk through improved driving behaviour. · While the potential safety benefits of EDRs appear clear, there is little real-world data available to quantify those benefits. The FMCSA is committed to facilitating the development and deployment of new technologies, such as EDRs; to help meet its goal of reducing the number of deaths and injuries in truck and bus-related crashes 50 percent by 2010. There are important issues that will need to be addressed as this new technology continues to be developed, including individual privacy with respect to the data collected, and access to that data. The FMCSA will continue to partner with industry and other government agencies to facilitate the use of EDRs through continued research and demonstration, development of voluntary standards, and the removal of any regulatory barriers that could inhibit their development and use. In addition, the agency plans to publish in the Federal Register a Request for Comments to gather more specific data on truck and bus EDR use, benefits, costs, and other issues of concern to users. In conjunction with this notice the FMCSA will open a public docket through which its partners, industry, and the public can continue to provide data and other information as it becomes available. (Author/publisher)
Samenvatting