Traffic Operation and Accident Investigation

Traffic - may consist of pedestrians, ridden or herded animals, vehicles, street cars and other
conveyances either singly or together while using the public way for purposes of travel.

Traffic laws - laws which govern traffic and regulate vehicles.

Traffic signs/road signs - are signs erected at the side of the roads to provide information to
road users.

Rules of the road - are the laws and the informal rules that may have developed overtime to
facilitate the orderly and timely flow of traffic.

Right of way - is a strip of land that is granted, through an easement or other mechanism for
transportation purposes such as for a trail, driveway, rail line or highway.
                      - the legal right, established by usage or grant, to pass along a specific route
through property belonging to another.

Traffic signal/Traffic light - a visual signal to control the flow of traffic at intersections.

Highway - any public road. A main road especially one connecting major town or cities.

Speed limit - define the maximum, minimum or no speed limit and are normally indicated using
a traffic sign.

Hit and run - is the act of causing a traffic accident and failing to stop and identify oneself
afterwards.

Traffic accident - occurs when a vehicle collides with another vehicle, pedestrian, animal, road
debris or other statutory obstruction such as tree or utility pole.

Mary Ward - worlds first road traffic death including a motor vehicle, is alleged to have occurred
on august 31, 1869, when she fell out of her cousins steam car and was run over it.

Causes of traffic accidents

1.  Human factors - ex. driver behavior, visual and auditory acuity, intoxication,decision
making ability and reaction speed.
2. Motor vehicle speed.
3. Driver impairment - factors that prevent the driver at their normal level of skill. Common
impairment include, 1) alcohol use 2) physical impairment - ex. poor eyesight 3) youth -
teens and early twenty aged drivers have the highest incidence of both accidents and
fatalities among all driving age group. 4) old age 5) sleep deprivation/fatigue 6) drug use
- including prescription drug.
4. Road design
5. Vehicle design and maintenance

 seat belts - wearing seat belts reduces the risk of death by two thirds.
  maintenance - a well designed and maintained vehicle with good breaks, tires and well
adjusted suspension will be more controllable in an emergency and better equipped to
avoid collision.
 center of gravity - roll overs have become common due to increased popularity of taller
SUV and minivans which have a higher center of gravity than standard passenger car.
 motorcycles - have little protection.

Skid mark - is the mark a tire makes when a vehicle wheel stops rolling and slides or spins on
the surface of the road.

 skid marks are caused by rubbers deposited on the road.

 one form of trace evidence, when their size and shape can reveal much about the
vehicle speed and forces of acceleration or deceleration.
 the length of the skid mark is closely related to the vehicle speed at the instant of
breaking, measuring the marks yields an estimate of original speed.
 Locard exchange principle - was postulated by Edmong Locard in the 20th century which
states that  with contact between two items, there will be an exchange. Every contact
leaves a trace. Everywhere you go, you take something with you and you leave
something behind.

Skid mark are divided into:

1. acceleration marks - created on acceleration if the engine provides more power that
the tire can transmit.
2. braking marks - if the brakes "lock-up" and cause the tire to slide.
3. yaw marks - if the tire slide sideways.

RA 4136 - Land Transportation and Traffic code of the Philippines.

Coefficient of Friction - is a dimensionless scalar value which describes the ratio of the force
of friction between two bodies and the force pressing them together.

Rail Adhesion - grip wheels of a train have on the rails.

Split Friction - dangerous condition arising due to varying friction on either side of a car.

Road Texture - affects the interaction of tires and the driving surface.

Profilograph - devised used to measure pavement surface roughness.

Tribometer - an instrument that measures friction on a surface.

Traffic Waves - "stop waves" "traffic Shocks" - are traveling disturbances in the distribution of
cars on a highway.
Traffic Flow - the total number of vehicles passing a given point in a given time. Traffic flow is
expressed as vehicle per hour.

Traffic Congestion - "traffic jam" - is a condition on roads, streets or highways that occurs as
use increases.

Characteristics of Traffic Congestion

1. Slow speed of vehicles
2. Longer travel time
3. Increased vehicle queuing

Classical Theories of Traffic Flow

1. Free flow
2. Congested traffic

Three-Phase Traffic Theory - is an alternative theory of traffic flow developed by Boris Kerner
between 1996 and 2002.
1. Free flow
2. Synchronized flow
3. Wide moving jam

Pedestrian - is a person traveling on foot whether walking or running.

Gridlock - a traffic jam so bad that no movement is possible.

China - (Beijing-Zhangjiakou province) - is considered the worlds worst traffic jam ever as traffic
congestion stretched more than 100 kilometers including 11 days of gridlock.

Brazil - (Sao Paolo) - has the worlds worst daily traffic jams.

France - (A6 Auto-route) - between Paris and Lyon was considered the worlds longest traffic
jam.

Abrasion - a condition manifested in pavement markings by gradual surface erosion, thinning,

and disappearance of the film due to wind, water, sand, and vehicle tire wear.

Acceleration - a rate of change of speed resulting in an increase in travel speed.

Acceleration lane - a speed change lane for the purpose of enabling vehicle entering a
roadway to increase its speed to a rate at which it can safely merge with through traffic,
providing the necessary merging distance, and giving the main road traffic the necessary time to
make appropriate adjustment.

Acceleration marks - marks that are just opposite the skid marks.The tires are being rotated by
the axle and when done fast enough, the outside of the tire, the thread, takes time to catch up to
the rest of the tire, which is being held by the coefficient of friction between the tires and the
road surface.Therefore, the acceleration marks are heavy at the beginning and lighten up as the
tire thread catches.

Access - a way of entering or traveling towards a location.

Actuation - the operation of a detector in registering the presence or passage of a vehicle or
pedestrian.

Advance warning area - the first component of a work zone, upstream of the approach area, 
used to alert drivers to road work ahead.

Advisory maximum speed - an advisory speed posted when the roadway geometries result in
a maximum safe speed which is 20 km/hr or more below the operating speed and is 10 km/hr or
more below the regulatory speed limit.

Advisory speed - the speed, determined to the nearest 5 km/hr at which traffic may safely
negotiate a potential hazard under favorable driving conditions.

A.I.D. - automatic incident detection.

Anti lock breaking system - (ABS) breaking system designed to break to break the vehicle in
the most effective manner, without locking up the tires and causing the tires to go into a
skid.This system is used differently than standard breaks when breaking in an emergency
situation.The break pedal is stepped on and held in place while the electronic system takes over
and modulates or applies the brakes until the wheels want to lock up and then releases and
breaks again.
Base drawing - The scale drawing made of the accident scene that shows all the landmarks
and detail to set the scene. It generally does not contain any measurements or any points of
impact (POI) or points of rest (POR)

Bottleneck - a highway section with reduced capacity that experiences operational problems
such as congestion.

Boulevard - an improved strip of land between the roadway and the sidewalk or between two
opposing roadways.

Bull nose - the area or point of divergence between two diverging roadways such as between
free way mainline lanes and an exit ramps.

Bumper fracture - fractures that typically occur due to the impact of a vehicle on the calves of a
decedent with fractures of the tibia or fibula.They may be unilateral or lateral.
Call box - a telephone pr other communications device located a given locations along the side
of the freeway.Motorists can request various services  such as police, fire, or ambulance by
pressing certain buttons or using voice communications.

Carbon dioxide - a  molecule consisting of one atom of carbon and two atoms of oxygen,which
is a major combustion product of the burning of organic materials.Carbon dioxide is the result  of
complete combustion of carbon.

Carbon monoxide - a colorless, odorless, very toxic gas formed by burning carbon or organic
fuels.A gaseous molecule having the formula CO, which is the product of incomplete
combustion of organic materials.

Carpool - an arrangement in which a group of people share the use and possibly the cost of a
car in traveling to and from pre-arrange destinations together.
Causeway - a bridge or raised way constructed over marshy land or water.It may be either an
earth fill or bridge type structure.

Center lane facility - a reserved lane at or near the center of the roadway.

Chemical etching - a form of texturing a mold utilizing an acid bath that erodes selective
portion of the metal, leaving a resulting texture or pattern.

Chicane - a series of curb extensions on alternating sides of a roadway, which narrow a

roadway and requires vehicle to meander to travel through the chicane. Typically, a series of
three curb extensions is used.

Chop shop - a location, often an automobile repair shop or salvage yard, where a stolen car is
stripped of its parts (radio,doors,engine,etc) the remains are cut up and sold for scrap metal.

Citation - a ticket issued by an officer deputized by the LTO for violating traffic laws.

Collision - an incident resulting in property damage, personal injury or death, and involving the
loss of control and/or the striking of one or more vehicles with another vehicle, person, an
animal, or an inanimate object.

Collision,primary - the impact between and another vehicle or a vehicle and a fixed object.

Collision,secondary - the impact between the occupant

Collision,tertiary - the impact between the occupant and the restraint system.

Corrosion - the degradation of metals or alloys due to reaction with the environment.The
corrosive action on the metals or alloys is accelerated by acids, bases, or heat.

Crosswalk - (pedestrian crossing) is a designated point on a road at which some means are
employed to assists pedestrians wishing to cross.

Curb - a vertical or sloping member along the edge of the roadway clearly defining the roadway
edge.
Declination - the difference between true north as shown on a topographic map and magnetic
north as indicated by the magnetic needle on a compass.

Drag factor - comes from the tool used to determine the value of the coefficient of friction of the
road surface.A portion of a concrete-weighted tire is pulled or dragged along the roadbed by a
"fish scale"The investigator reads the scale and and divides by the weight of the tire to
determine the coefficient of friction.It is called dragged factor because it is determined by
dragging the tire.

Driveway - every entrance or exit used by vehicular traffic to or from lands or buildings abutting
a highway.

DUI - driving under the influence.

DWI -driving while intoxicated.

Dyslexia - a disturbance to the ability to read.

Efface - to rub out, to strike, scratch out, or to erase.
First responder - the initial responding law enforcement officer or other public safety official or
service provider arriving at the scene prior to the arrival of the investigator in charge.

Footbridge - (pedestrian bridge) is a bridge designed for pedestrians and in some cases
cyclists, animal traffic rather than vehicular traffic.

Footpath - is a path along the side of the road.

Gross weight - the weight of the vehicle without load plus the weight of any load thereon.
Intersection - is a road junction where two or more roads either meet or cross at grade.(same
level)An intersection maybe 3 way, T-junction, fork, 4 way, cross roads, 5 way or more.
Laned roadway - a roadway is which is divided into two or more clearly marked lanes for
vehicular traffic.

Longitudinal axis - the long axis of the vehicle that runs from the front (hood) to the rear (trunk)
of the vehicle.
Metallic paint - paint used for covering metal surfaces, the pigment is usually iron oxide.

Meter - the basic unit of length in the metric system.

Motor vehicle - (road vehicle) is a self propelled wheeled vehicle that does not operate on rails
such as trains or trolleys.
Overhang - that potion of a transport vehicle which extends beyond the front or rear bumper.
Pavement - (road surface) is the durable surface material laid down on an area intended to
sustain vehicular or foot traffic  such as road or walkway.

Pedestrian - is a person traveling on foot, whether walking or running.

Prying tool - a tool that can be used to forcibly open a locked door/cover by  applying leverage
to the door/cover at one of its edges.
R.A.4136 - Land transportation and traffic code.

Refuge island - (pedestrian island) is a small section of pavement or sidewalk  completely

surrounded by asphalt or other road materials where pedestrian can stop before finishing
crossing the road.

Right of way - the right of one vehicle or pedestrian to proceed in a lawful manner in preference
to another vehicle or pedestrian approaching under such circumstances of direction, speed, and
proximity as to give rise to danger of collision unless one grants precedence to the other.

Road - is a thoroughfare, route, or way on land between two places which typically has been
paved or otherwise improved to allow travel by some conveyance, including a horse, cart, or
motor vehicle.

Roadway - consists of a width of road on which a vehicle is not restricted by any physical
barriers or separation to move laterally.

Road junction - is a location where vehicular traffic going in different directions can proceed in
a controlled manner designed to minimize accidents.

Runabout - is type of circular intersection or junction in which road traffic is slowed and flows
almost continuously in one direction around a central island to several exits into the various
intersecting roads.
Skid marks - marks left on the road surface when the tire stops rotating, locks up and skids.

Speed limit - the maximum speed at which a vehicle may legally travel on a particular stretch of
road.

Stellar pattern - A bull’s-eye-type fracture of the windshield when struck by a human or

anthropomorphic head during a collision. Damage occurs in the form of a circular pattern, with
cracks radiating from the center.

Stile - is a structure which provides people a passage through or over a fence or boundary via
steps, ladder, or narrow gaps.

Submarining - action of the occupant sliding forward underneath the lap belt portion of the
restraint system, with the lap belt webbing resting above the pelvic girdle.
Tint - a color that has been made lighter by the addition of white.

Tire impression - when a tire contacts a surface, it results in the transfer of the class
characteristics of design and size and possibly of wear and individual characteristics of the tire.

Tire patch - that portion of the tire that rest on the road surface.It is oval shaped and has its
longest axis along the normal direction of travel of the vehicle.When a vehicle is sliding
sideways, the tire marks left on the road gets almost twice as wide as the tires turn sideways
and the short axis is in the direction of travel that makes the tire marks.

Tire thread - part of a tire that contacts the road surface and contains a design.

Traffic - may consists of pedestrians,ridden or herded animals,vehicles, streetcars, and other

conveyances, either singly or together, while using the public way for purposes of travel.

Traffic circle - is a type of intersection that has a generally circular central island.

Traffic collision - (traffic accident) occurs when a vehicle collides with another vehicle,
pedestrian, animal, road debris, or other stationary obstruction such as a tree or utility pole.

Traffic engineering - is a branch of civil engineering that use engineering techniques to

achieve the safe and efficient movement of people and goods on roadways.

Traffic light - (traffic signal) are signalling devices positioned at road intersections, pedestrian
crossings, and other locations to control competing flows of traffic.

Traffic signs - (road signs) are signs erected at the side of roads to provide information to road
users.

Trails - (byway) is a path with a rough beaten or dirt/stone surface used for travel.
Tumblehome - The curvature of a vehicle body inward toward the roof. This gives the vehicle a
rounder look from the front and decreases aerodynamic drag.
VIN - vehicle identification number, the serial number that the car's manufacturer stamps on
several motor vehicle parts (many of which are inaccessible) for the purpose of tracing and
identifying car ownership.

Vulcanization - a irreversible process in which a rubber compound is heated under pressure

resulting in a chemical change in its structure.
Walkway - is a composite or umbrella term for all engineered surfaces or structures which
support the use of trails.