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Crash detection is an accelerometer-based function in a telematics device. When the device detects a sudden high-G deceleration matching a collision pattern, it immediately saves several seconds of data from before and after the impact – speed, heading, G-force readings, and GPS coordinates.
Good crash detection distinguishes genuine impacts from false positives. A speed bump produces a short, sharp spike; a collision produces a sustained high-G event. The saved data is used for three purposes:
- Insurance claims – objective evidence of speed, direction, and impact severity at the time of the incident
- Accident reconstruction – detailed G-force curve shows the sequence of events during the collision
- Driver coaching – incident records feed into safety score reviews and follow-up conversations with drivers