1. A matched filter for processing data representative of vehicle acceleration to produce a discrimination output value suitable for threshold comparison to determine whether to deploy an occupant safety restraint device, said filter comprising: an input means for organizing the acceleration data into n time sequential data samples ranging from a current sample to an n.sup.th oldest sample; a memory means for storing at least one set of n predetermined scaling factors; means for combining each of the n data samples with a predefined one of the n scaling factors, wherein the respective values of said n scaling factors are predetermined to effect a predetermined vehicle crash discrimination strategy; and means for combining the n scaled data samples to produce the discrimination output value.