Citation

Sapper D, Cusack H, Staes L. Accid. Reconstr. J. 2010; 20(5): 17p.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2010, Accident Reconstruction Journal)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Event Data Recorders (EDRs) and Video Data Recorders (VDRs) are becoming more prevalent in public transportation vehicles. They can be used for accident investigation, driver performance monitoring, vehicle maintenance, and risk management. This article evaluates a number of commercial EDRs and VDRs currently available, including the Tacholink and 24/7 Security units. The authors discuss installation problems, sensor errors, and other problems associated with EDRs installed on paratransit cutaway vehicles, using those units purchased through the Florida Transit Research Inspection Procurement Services (TRIPS) Program as the primary data pool. They note that transit agencies in Florida that have attempted to use EDRs quickly became frustrated due to poor customer service from the vendor, poor manufacturer installation of the unit, software problems, and operational issues with the EDR unit that have taken significant amounts of time to resolve. Reliability, the data extraction process, and overall usefulness have been markedly less than anticipated. In addition to those mentioned above, the article briefly reviews AngelTrax, Zepco, DriveCam, and IDrive. The article concludes with recommendations for improvements to the procurement, installation, and use of these technologies by public transportation agencies.