Saab 2007 owner manual Vehicle Data Collection and Event Data Recorders

Customer Assistance and Information 255

Vehicle Data Collection and Event Data Recorders

Your vehicle, like other modern motor vehi- cles, has a number of sophisticated com- puter systems that monitor and control sev- eral aspects of the vehicle’s performance. Your vehicle uses on-board vehicle comput- ers to monitor emission control components to optimize fuel economy, to monitor condi- tions for air bag deployment and, if so equipped, to provide anti-lock braking and to help the driver control the vehicle in diffi- cult 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 commonly called event data recorders (EDR).

In a crash event, computer systems, such as the Air Bag Sensing and Diagnostic Module (SDM) in your vehicle may record information about the condition of the vehi- cle and how it was operated, such as data related to engine speed, brake application, throttle position, vehicle speed, steering wheel angle, lateral acceleration, safety belt usage, air bag readiness, air bag perfor- mance, and the severity of a collision. This information has been used to improve vehi- cle crash performance and may be used to improve crash performance of future vehi- cles 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 SDM is required.

Saab 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 Saab’s defense of litigation through the discovery process, or

•as required by law.

In addition, once Saab collects or receives data, Saab may

•use the data for Saab research needs,

•make it available for research where appropriate confidentiality is to be main- tained and need is shown, or

•share summary data which is not tied to a specific vehicle with non-Saab organiza- tions for research purposes.

Others, such as law enforcement, may have access to the special equipment that can read the information if they have access to the vehicle or SDM.

If your vehicle is equipped with OnStar®, please check the OnStar® subscription ser- vice agreement or manual for information on its operations and data collection.