Malaysian Public’s Perception Toward Event Data Recorder (EDR) in Vehicles

Fadhlan Hafizhelmi Kamaru Kamaru Zaman (Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia)
Ismail Danish Rozaimi (Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia)
Syahrul Afzal Che Abdullah (Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia)
Lucyantie Mazalan (Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia)
Husna Zainol Abidin (Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia)
Amir Radzi Ab. Ghani (Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia)
Yahaya Ahmad (Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research, Malaysia)

Automotive Experiences
Vol. 7 No. 3 (2024)

The Event Data Recorder (EDR) is an important device in a vehicle that can be used to analyze vehicle accidents. EDRs record and store crucial sensor data before, during, and after accidents, which can be used in reconstructing accident events. EDR has been regulated in the US and UK; however, its implementation in the ASEAN region, especially in Malaysia, is relatively new. In this study, a survey is conducted to investigate the perception of Malaysians toward EDR. There are three focuses of this survey: (1) the public's awareness of EDR's existence; (2) their perception of the benefits of EDR; and (3) their privacy concerns with the use of EDR in vehicles. The survey revealed that a majority (75.4%) of respondents were unaware of the existence of EDR, but 72.3% acknowledged that EDR could help identify accident causes, and 59.5% believed it could promote safer driving. Moreover, over 66% of respondents agreed that EDR could enhance vehicle and road safety. Besides, 40.3% expressed concern about potential privacy breaches and misuse of EDR data. Despite that, nearly 80% of respondents were in favor of installing EDR in their vehicles and allowing the data to be used in court. Additionally, 70% indicated that EDR would become a criterion for vehicle selection, and they would support mandatory EDR regulations.