Vehicle Data Collection and EventData RecordersYour vehicle, like other modern motor vehicles, has anumber of sophisticated computer systems that monitorand control several aspects of the vehicle’sperformance. Your vehicle uses on-board vehiclecomputers to monitor emission control components tooptimize fuel economy, to monitor conditions for air bagdeployment and, if so equipped, to provide anti-lockbraking and to help the driver control the vehiclein difficult driving situations. Some information may bestored during regular operations to facilitate repairof detected malfunctions; other information is stored onlyin a crash event by computer systems, such as thosecommonly called event data recorders (EDR).In a crash event, computer systems, such as theAir Bag Sensing and Diagnostic Module (SDM) in yourvehicle may record information about the condition ofthe vehicle and how it was operated, such as data relatedto engine speed, brake application, throttle position,vehicle speed, safety belt usage, air bag readiness,air bag performance, and the severity of a collision. Thisinformation has been used to improve vehicle crashperformance and may be used to improve crashperformance of future vehicles and driving safety.Unlike the data recorders on many airplanes, theseon-board systems do not record sounds, such asconversation of vehicle occupants.To read this information, special equipment is neededand access to the vehicle or the device that storesthe data is required. GM will not access informationabout a crash event or share it with others other than:• with the consent of the vehicle owner or, if thevehicle is leased, with the consent of the lessee,• in response to an official request of police or similargovernment office,• as part of GM’s defense of litigation through thediscovery process, or• as required by law.In addition, once GM collects or receives data, GM may:• use the data for GM research needs,• make it available for research where appropriateconfidentiality is to be maintained and need isshown, or• share summary data which is not tied to a specificvehicle with non-GM organizations for researchpurposes.7-10
