I wouldnt consider it as GM being sneaky. Since the mid 70s GM has always recorded airbag data. Of course as electronics/technology have progressed so has the amount of recorded data. The original intent of the data was for internal testing and development of current and future airbag systems. My guess would be that every car maker and airbag system on the market contains recorded data.
Several years ago GM was sued for privacy issues over the recorded data. So GM released the hardware/software to Vetronix in order to have this crash data available to the aftermarket. The result is the Vetronix CDR module. Currently the module covers 1994-current GM and a few 2000 and newer Ford vehicles. The plan is to add other vehicles with software upgrades to the Vetronix CDR. So in the future its quite possible that one would be able to obtain crash data from a BMW or Honda in the same way as with the GM systems. Also with software updates....it may be possible to get GM data from pre 1994 vehicles. NHTSA is all for having this crash data information available. The Vetronix CDR has benn validated as being accurate at obtaining the crash data.
Obtaining crash data.....hopefully you would never have a need for our services. But the ability for the general public to obtain the recorded crash data is nil. Very few companies/states actually have this equipment. I doubt if you contacted your state police unit they would be willing to download the recorded information at any price. It would be the rare situation, where the data would be desired, but we would be able to obtain the recorded crash information for you.
Data ownership.....this is a huge issue. The current rule of thumb is the owner of the vehicle owns the data. There have been several cases where police departments have pulled the SDM module for data retrieval....without the owners permission. Bad, bad, bad.
More on recorded data......you total your car. The bank or insurance company writes you check. They now own the crash data. '1984' issues start coming up. Lets say they obtain the crash data and add it to your file. Ok...now lets say this data is now used against you. You refinance your home for example....and you end up paying a half percent higher mortgage rate because 'you drive a little too fast.' I'm not saying this is actually happening...yet. But hopefully you can see now how really valuable this data is.
SDM tampering.... Some people have mentioned they would either swap the SDM in a crashed vehicle or destroy the SDM. Dont! The courts frown very heavily on such actions. You could lose control of the case very rapidly and be punished. That being said....if I ever wreck one of my vehicles....the SDM will be staying with me.
Logan
www.airbagcrash.com