While thumbing through the drivers handbook for my GV, I came across a section that I don't remember seeing before. Page 71 gives information about the Event Data Recorder which was an eye opener for me:

Event Data Recorder (EDR)
In the event of an airbag deployment, your vehicle is
designed to record up to 2-seconds of specific vehicle
data parameters (see list below) in an event data recorder
prior to the moment of airbag deployment. Please note
that such data are ONLY recorded if an airbag deploys,
and are otherwise unavailable. In conjunction with other
data gathered during a complete accident investigation,
the electronic data may be used by DaimlerChrysler
Corporation and others to learn more about the possible
causes of crashes and associated injuries in order to
assess and improve vehicle performance. In addition to
crash investigations initiated by DaimlerChrysler Corporation,
such investigations may be requested by customers,
insurance carriers, government officials, and professional
crash researchers, such as those associated with
universities, and with hospital and insurance organizations.
In the event that an investigation is undertaken by
DaimlerChrysler Corporation (regardless of initiative),
the company or its designated representative will first
obtain permission of the appropriate custodial entity for
the vehicle (usually the vehicle owner or lessee) before
accessing the electronic data stored, unless ordered to
download data by a court with legal jurisdiction (i.e.,
pursuant to a warrant). A copy of the data will be
provided to the custodial entity upon request. General
data that does not identify particular vehicles or crashes
may be released for incorporation in aggregate crash
databases, such as those maintained by the US government
and various states. Data of a potentially sensitive
nature, such as would identify a particular driver, vehicle,
or crash, will be treated confidentially. Confidential
data will not be disclosed by DaimlerChrysler Corporation
to any third party except when:
1. Used for research purposes, such as to match data
with a particular crash record in an aggregate database,
provided confidentiality of personal data is thereafter
preserved
2. Used in defense of litigation involving a
DaimlerChrysler Corporation product
3. Requested by police under a legal warrant
4. Otherwise required by law

Data Parameters that May Be Recorded:
• Diagnostic trouble code(s) and warning lamp status
for electronically-controlled safety systems, including
the airbag system
• Airbag disable lamp status (if equipped)
• Time of airbag deployment (in terms of ignition
cycles and vehicle mileage)
• Airbag deployment level (if applicable)
• Seatbelt status
• Brake status (service and parking brakes)
• Accelerator status (including vehicle speed)
• Engine control status (including engine speed)
• Cruise control status
• Traction/stability control status

 

Oh Hell I'm gonna do it......Agaaa....Do Do Do push Pineapple shake the Tree.
There I've done it so it won't bug me now.

 

Ok Ok before you say I'm wrong that was by Black Lace...
Black Box was "Ride on Time"...
God the wife's dancing to Aga Do Do now...
Sorry guys just a bit nostalgia...

 

You need to get out more goggsy

 

Funny you mention the black box part (cue goggsy singing again) but a friend of mine with a Ford just had the instrument cluster in for a fault and I noticed some of the services this 3rd party does and one was airbag deployment data retrieval.
Seems this is quite a common thing that most airbag deployment systems record all the events that triggered the deployment, etc.

I'd be very interested to see what output it gave, I'm going to see if the company would be so kind to provide 'test' data.

 

That could be interesting Andy.