The primary description of crash severity in most crash databases is vehicle delta-V. Delta-V has been traditionally estimated through crash reconstruction techniques using computer codes, e.g. Crash3 and WinSmash. Unfortunately, delta-V is notoriously difficult to estimate in many types of collisions including sideswipes, collisions with narrow objects, angled side impacts, and rollovers. Indeed, approximately 50% of all delta-V estimates in the National Automotive Sampling System / Crashworthiness Data System (NASS/CDS) 2000 are reported as unknown.

The Event Data Recorders (EDRs), now being installed as standard equipment by several automakers, have the potential to provide an independent measurement of crash severity, which avoids many of the difficulties of crash reconstruction techniques. This paper evaluates the feasibility of replacing delta-V estimates from crash reconstruction with the delta-V computed from EDRs. The analysis is based on 225 NASS/CDS cases from 1999 - 2001, which have corresponding EDR datasets. The potential of extracting manual seat belt use from EDRs is also discussed and compared with the corresponding results from NASS/CDS gathered by crash investigators. Although EDRs are expected to greatly enhance the investigation of a crash, it should be noted however that current EDRs are not perfect. The paper discusses the limitations of current EDR technology and the need for enhancement of future Event Data Recorders.