What may happen if electronic data in a vehicle is not protected during an incident?

If electronic data in a vehicle is not adequately protected during an incident, it is susceptible to being lost or deleted if power is provided to the vehicle. Many modern vehicles use electronic control units that can store critical data related to performance, crashes, and incidents. When power is applied—such as when the vehicle is restarted—it can lead to the overwriting or deletion of unretrieved data.

This vulnerability is particularly crucial during traffic incidents because data such as accident details, airbag deployment information, and system diagnostics can be invaluable for investigations and understanding the dynamics of the event. Protecting this data is essential for ensuring that it remains intact for any necessary analysis or legal proceedings. Inadequate protection can willfully or unintentionally lead to the loss of important information that could impact insurance claims, liability considerations, or safety insights.

Other options do not accurately depict the risks associated with unprotected electronic data during an incident.