1 3.4 — Traffic Accident investigation os, LESSON 5,4 TRAFFIC ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION Concept: Traffic Accident Investigation. Generally, to know what question to ask and what to look for, you must have some fundamental bearing on accidents and their causes. When you speak of traffic accident, everybody knows what you mean - SOMETHING WENT WRONG on the highway, either a wrecked car, somebody is injured or possibly killed. A. What Traffic Accident Investigation Determines? It aims to know the five (5) “Ws” and one (1) “H" of the incident: . WHAT happened? WHO and WHAT was involved? WHERE did it happen? |. WHY did it happen? HOW did the accident occur? 6. WHEN did the accident happen? ve ene B. Purposes of Traffic Accident Investigation. There are four (4) main reasons, depending on who does the investigation: 1. Everyone involved is curious about the causes and circumstances of the accident. 2. For the police — to find out whether there is enough evidence of law violation in the accident. 3. Claims attorneys and adjusters want to determine negligence on the part of the drivers involved in the accident so that damage claims can be properly adjusted.n 54 Traffic Accident Investigation 187 Lessor a 4, Officials and others want specific information about accidents to know how to prevent future accidents. common Words and Phrases Used in Traffic Accident igation. The following words and phrases with their coresponding meaning are often used in the process: 1, Accident. It is that occurrence in a sequence of events which usually produces unintended injury, death, or property damage. 2. Traffic Accident. An accident involving travel transportation on a traffic way. 3, Motor Vehicle Accident. Events resulting in unintended injury or property damage attributable directly or indirectly to the action of a motor vehicle or its loads. Included are: a. Accidental injury from inhalation of exhaust gas; b. Fires; c. Explosion; d. Discharge of firearm within the motor vehicle while in motion; e. Collision between a motor vehicle and a railroad train or street car on stationary rails or tracks; and f. Failure of any part of the motor vehicle while the vehicle is in motion. Excluded are: a. Collision of a motor vehicle with an aircraft or water-craft in motion; b. Injury or damage due to cataclysms (flood or sudden physical change of the earth surface); and ¢. Injury or damage while the motor vehicle is not under its Power is being loaded on or unloaded from another conveyance. 4 i vehefetor Vehicle. Every device which is self-propelled and every tole which is propelled by electric power obtained from overhead 'Y Wires, but not operated upon rails. en aSS 188 Lesson $.4~ Traffic Accident |nvestigation Sa 5. Key Event. An event on the road which. characte z izes manner of occurrence of a motor vehicle traffic accident. the | 6. Debris. The scattered broken parts of vehicles, rubbish, dy st and other materials left at the scene of the accident caused bys collision. 7. Skid Marks. These are marks left on the roadway by tires Which are not free to rotate, usually because brakes are applied strong anq the wheels locked. 8. Traffic Unit. Any person using a traffic way for travel, Parking or other purposes,as a pedestrian or driver, including any vehicle, o¢ animal which he is using. _It-applies not only to motor vehicles but | also to: a. Pedestrians; b. Cyclists; c. Street cars; : d. Horse-drawn (animal-drawn) vehicles; e. Farm tractors; and f. Other road users/in almost any combination - Example: A traffic. accident could ‘involve a cyclist.arid a pedestrian. 9. Hazards. A hazard is generated when a critical space-motion relationships Nn a traffic unit and another object develops due to the movement of either or both. Example: A curve in the path is ’ a hazard. Another traffic unit in the path is also a hazard. 10. Safe Speed. The speed adjusted to the potential or possible hazards or the road and traffic situation ahead. Safe speed on the road is determined by the road rather than the particular driver of @ vehicle. Example: A curve ahead is a hazard and a safe speed forit is a speed at which it can be taken comfortably. 11. Strategy. It is the adjusting of speed, position on the road, and direction of motion, giving signals of intent to turn or slow down, % any other action in situations involving potential hazards. ee 4 —Lesson 3.4-~ Traffic Accident Investigation _—oo 42, Tactic. Any action taken by the traffic unit to avoid hazardous situations like steering, braking, or accelerating to avoid collision or other accident. , 139 The striking of one body agai i . Impact. : gainst another or a. collision 2 ‘a motor vehicle with another motor Vehicle. 14. Contact Damage. Damage to a vehicle resulting from direct ure of some foreign object in a Collision ‘or roll Over. It is usually indicated by striations, rub-off of material or Puncture, 45,.Factor. Any circumstance Contributing to a. résult without which the result.could not have Occurred or it is an element necessary to produce the result, but not by itself sufficient, 16. Primary Cause. A misnomer loosel "obvious or easily explained factor in tl most easily modified condition factor, YY applied to the most he cause of an accident or the ~— 17. Cause. The combination of sim lultaneous and sequential factors without any one of which result could not have occurred, 18. Attribute. Any inherent characteristics of a road, a vehicle, or a Person that affects the Probability of a traffic accident, 19. Modifier. A circumstance that alters an attribute permanently or temporarily. D. Kinds of Traffic Accidents. In the investigation of traffic accidents, tts imperative for th le traffic investigator to know the kinds on accident Occurred in ord 9 er to map out the necessary activities to be done when “sponding and investigating, 1. Non-Motor Vehicle Traffic Accident. Refers to any accident TG On a traffic way involving persons using the traffic way or bone ‘ransportation, but not involving a motor vehicle in motion, le: estrian and cyclist in a traffic way: oe f190, Lesson $4 - Traffic Accident Investigation Se 2. Motor Vehicle Non-Traffic Accident. Any motor sa, accident which occurs entirely in any place other than a traffic ve Example: accident on a private driveway. 3. Motor Vehicle Traffic Accident. Any Motor vehicle acci ‘occurring on a traffic way. Example: collision between automobi ona highway. ss |. Classification of Motor Vehicle Traffic Accident According to Key Event. 1. Running off road. This is usually characterized by a motor , vehicle falling on the roadside or on a cliff along mountainous roads (see figure 47). 2. Non-collision on road. This does not involve any collision an example of which is overturning (see figure 48). 3. Collision on road. On the other hand, this type of accident includes all forms of accident as long as there is a collision. Examples of this are motor vehicle colliding with: a. Pedestrian - may be walking, running or standing on a roadway (see figure 49). b. Other motor vehicle in traffic - may be head on, head and rear, sides opposite direction, sides the same direction, head and side collision, etc. (see figures 50.1-50.5). cc. Parked motor vehicle - the form of collision may be similar toa Moving vehicle like head on collision, however, one is parked anywhere on a roadway, : d. Railroad train - this type of collision usually occurs alond railroad crossings. e. Bicycle - in this form of collision, it is either the motor vehicle or the bicyclists who initiated the collision.gate Teaflic Accident Investigation 191 a5 OT el object - traffic islands, pedestrian barriers, electric post D (ee gure 51). ( other objects ~ street cars, ice cream vendor, etc, 9. a Figure 47 This illustration shows car 1 falling off the road way. No Figure 48 "collision on Road - Vehicle 2 overturning on the roadway. Figure 49 bh i192 Lesson 5.4 ~ Traffic Accident Investigation Se Motor Vehicle Collision with Pedestrian ed Ee Figure 50.1 Illustration shows vehicles 1 and 2 colliding head-on. Figure 50.2 This illustration shows vehicles 1 and 2 on head-rear Collision. Figure 50.3 Sideswipe opposite direction ; Figure 50.4 Sideswipe same directionon 5 Traffic Accident Investigation 193 Figure 50.5 Head-side angle collision Figure 51 Illustration shows motor vehicle collision witha fixed object (traffic island). | Gasification of Accidents According to Severity. 1, Property Damage Accident. There is no fatal or injury to any person but only damage to the motor vehicle or to other property induding injury to animals. 2 Slight. Only slight damages to properties. 3. Non-Fatal Injury Accident. This results in injuries other than fatal to one or more persons. 4. Less Serious. Only less serious injuries to persons. 5. Serious. This Causes serious injuries to persons. S. Fatal, This resuits in death to one or more persons, bh -@€%194 | esson 5.4 ~ Traffic Accident Investigation aS a f Motor Vehicle Traffic Accidents. Traffic accidents rs ang circumstances and only after thorough investigation, when liability and responsibility can be ascertained. Notwithstanding that No driver will readily accept that he initiated the accident. With these, the traffic investigator is faced with a gargantuan task of bringing out the truth on who should be held responsible for the unusual incident. His primary concern will be to determine how and why the accident happened. 1. Simultaneous Factors a. Road conditions. b. Drivers’ attitude or behavior. ¢. Weather condition. 2. Sequential Factors. a. Speed is greater or less than safe. b. Defective vehicle (vehicle malfunction). 3. Operational Factors - a. Road hazards. b. Driver's non-compliance to traffic laws, rules and regulations, 4. Perception Factors a. Driver's inability to react promptly to a situation. b. Driver's faulty action to escape collision course. When all possible causes of an accident have been grouped together by an investigating officer and he believes the accident would not have occurred if any one of these causes did not exist, then the investigator may have identified the combination of factors causing the accident. On-the-scene reconstruction of a traffic accident relates accident causation to direct causes for summary police action and to direct mediate and. early causes for Ongoing studies of high-frequency accident locations and future research and analysis. H. Chain of Events in a Vehicular Accident. For the purpose & reporting, traffic accident may usually be described well enough as @ ee ad| exson 54~ Trafic Accident lovestigation el 195 occurrence but when accident is investigated, attention is directed sae cular stages of the occurrence. In fact, an accident may be to oy defined as a series of an expected events leading to damage or sua” “one event usually leads to another so that the series can be my of as a "chain of events.” These events are described and istrated below: 1 Perception of Hazard. It is seeing, feeling, or hearing and understanding the usual or unexpected movement or condition that could be taken as sign of the accident about to happen (see figure 52). 4 : Figure 52 Inhere, vehicle 1 perceives that vehicle 2 is dangerously driving in the midst of the curve line. 2, Start of evasive action. It is the first action taken by a traffic unit to escape from a collision course or otherwise avoid a hazard (see figure 53). Vet : Figure 53 a 'de 1 slightly maneuvered to the right and slowed down to avoid colliding with vehicle 2. fgon 5.4-~ Traffic Accident lnves 3. Initial Contact. The first accidental touching of an object Collision course or otherwise avoids a hazard (see figure 54). Figure 54 Despite first vehicle's evasive action, it collided with the second vehicle. 4. Maximum Engagement. It is greatest collapse or overlap in a collision. The force between the traffic unit. and the object collided with are greatest at maximum engagement (see figure 55). Figure 55 After the initial contact, due to the speed of vehicle 2, the two colliding vehicles overlapped each other. 5. Disengagement. It is the separation of a traffic unit in motion from an object with which it has collided. The force between the object ceases at this time (see figure 56).a 5A- Traffic Accident Investigation Lesson 197 Figure 56 the colliding units disengaged may be due to their speed or due to the interes action taken by the drivers, 6, Stopping. This is when the traffic unit/s involved come to rest. Itusually stabilizes the accident situation (see figure 57). Figure 57 7, Injury. It is receiving bodily harm. This event does not necessary occur after the accident but within any of the chain of events. It may also happen right after the evasive action taken by the drivers involved or during the initial contact. 8. Other events that may occur during an accident. 2. Point of Possible Perception. The place and time of which the hazard could have been perceived by a normal person. It Precedes actual perception and is the beginning of perception delay (see figure 58). b. Point of no Escape. It is that place and time after or beyond which the accident cannot be prevented by the traffic unit under Consideration (see figure 59). ree er >18 | essen 3.4 ~ Trafhie Accident Investigation a ¢. Perception Delay. The time from the point of pos, perception to actual perception. a d. Final Position. It is the place and time when itvoha in an accident finally come to rest without application of poner CD Figure 58 At point where vehicle 1 is situated, the possibility of colliding with an ‘oncoming vehicle could already be perceived by a normal driver. Figure 59 At the points where vehicles 2 and 3 are situated, collision could no longer be avoided due to their prior Speed and the traversing point of vehicle 2. 1, Five (5) Levels of Activity in Accident In ion, Inte vestigation. investigation of traffic accidents, the following stages or levels of investi vestigatic ieee 1. Reporting. This stage involves basic data collection to iertt and classify a motor vehicle, traffic and persons, property 3 ‘planned movements involved, pene cecmenmeenaner — |[Lesson 54 ~ Traffic Accident investigation = 199 , At-Scene Investigation. This level involves all action taken ie investigator at the scene of the crime or accident, ” 3. Technical Preparation. This involves delayed traffic accident data collection and organization for Study and interpretation. 4, Professional Reconstruction, This involves efforts to determine from whatever information is available, how the accident happened. 5. Cause Analysis. This last level usually involves final analysis on the causes of accident which are bases for the prevention of similar accident. i. Steps Taken by the Police during Traffic Accident Investigation. Like in any other forms of police investigations, the traffic investigators follow chronological steps in responding and investigating traffic-related accidents to insure gathering of thorough information. 1. Step One. Upon Learning of the Accident. a. Ask first: When did the accident happen?; Exactly where was 2; How_bad_ was it?; Did you see the accident happened?; and Where can you be reached? b. Decide whether to go to the scene: Will scene have been Cleared by the time of arrival?; Is it in investigator’s area?; and Should headquarters be informed or consulted? ¢. Then find out, if necessary; Is traffic blocked?; Has ambulance been called?; Has wrencher been called?; and Was fire apparatus Called? 2. Step Two. Start for the Scene. With two-way radio, you can do ‘Wo things while on the way. ; traffic jams; . Choose Best Approach. Consider: Time; possible 5 Possible route of driver involved; and probable situation at scene, i 214 Lesson 5.5 - Hit-And-Run Investigation ee, D. Elements of Hit-and-Run. To attain the objective of identifying and apprehending the hit-and-run driver, as the investigator: 1. You must prove suspect was driving the vehicle at the time of accident. Even if you have witnesses to prove this, get evidence to disprove his alibi. 2. Suspect was involved in an accident resulting in death, persona injury or damage to property. 3. Suspect failed to stop, give aid or information as to his identity to other person(s) involved, to police or to anyone at the accident scene: or failed to take reasonable steps to notify the owner of damaged property other than’a vehicle. Do not overlook the possibility of a simulated second accident to explain damaged caused by the first accident. 4. Suspect had knowledge of the accident. a. Physical evidence may prove the vehicle figured in the accident. b. Extent of damage to vehicle. Extensive damage to vehicle would preclude allegation of lack of knowledge. If suspect refrained from using his vehicle for several days since the accident, this would also indicate the guilt. c. Guard against claims that the vehicle was ‘stolen to evade responsibility. €. The Hit-and-Run Operator. The personality of the hit-and-run driver may be one of the following: 1. Three categories based upon possible psychological explanations for their motivation of flight: a. Apprehensive-panic-drive, fearful driver: intoxicated drivers; without license; no insurance; his companion in the car is notLesson 5.5 - Hit-And-Run Investigation is/her mate; stolen Car; stolen goods in ar; leavi ne of ther crime; and fleeing crime scene Or wanted for aie ° p, Projectionist-projects Quilt. This type of drivers sits as judge and jury, tries the case himself, finds the other driver at fault refuses to be a party to the accident and drives off as the offended person. c. The sneak operator. This type involves minor Oy fa damage-only accidents like one. that smashes. a fevee a smashes grillwork in his daily occupational activities and chalks up his action as the calculated risk shared by all vehicle owners who place their vehicles on the roadway. 2, Classes of Hit-and-Run Drivers. They could be: Drunk drivers; criminals fleeing from the scene of the crime; improperly ‘licensed drivers or drivers with no license or with revoked or expired license; drivers who fear publicity and Prosecution; ignorance of the accident; driver who flees in panic; drug addicts; insurance or financial reasons; and or juveniles. 215 f. Preliminary Steps in Hit-and-Run Investigation. The following \sually serve as the guideline for hit-and-run cases investigators: 1. Refer to checklist on Accident Investigation. 2. Obtain the best possible descriptions of the car and driver. a. A good description may be obtained from partial descriptions given by witnesses. b. Get the license plate and any unusual features of the vehicle. ¢. Concentrate on the car's description first. 4. Dispatch initial description and all subsequent information to Headquarters and to police agencies that may assist. in Spotting and stopping the suspect vehicle. eeson 5.5 ~ Hit-And-Run lnvestigation @. Broadcast descriptions of the suspected car and driver to aj police units and offices. f. Try to determine the damage to the fleeing car. Appeal for information through local newspapers, radio, T.V., etc, w Carefully search the hit-and-run scene for physical evidence. a. These may include broken glasses and fragments, hubcaps, paint scrapping from hit-and-run car, other evidence such as dirt from subject car, radiator, ornament, etc.. b.. Carefully preserve and label all evidence found at the scene. c. Request laboratory. study of evidence. d. Watch out for the possible return of the hit-and-run driver to the scene of the accident. This has been known to happen. * 5. The Victim a. Check his clothing; other parts of his body, tire marks, grease, paint chips, fragments, and such things that might have been left on him by the suspect car. b. If the victim is killed, get samples of uncontaminated blood from him at the morgue and samples of hair, skin, etc.. c. Collect and preserve. for laboratory examination, the clothes, shoes, and other items he was wearing at the time of the accident. G. Follow-up Investigation. ~During follow-up investigation, the investigator should: 1. Interview persons living along the route taken by the hit-and-run driver; also operators of filling stations and garages. 2. Canvass parking lots and other filling stations and garages.ation 217 nd-Run Investig: Lesson 5.5 ~Hit-Ar ident scene at the same time On subsequent 3. Return to eee the following weeks to obtain additional eee vei such 3s delivery men operating on scheduled routes, 4. Follow-up phone calls to garages and dealers of auto Parts. 5. Continue appealing for information through the Press, radio and wv. 4. Search for Suspect Car. If it is located and recovered: 1. Look for physical evidence, such as latent fingerprints, Pieces of dothing, marks, damaged Parts, hair, blood, etc, which will identify the car as that involved in the hit-and-run accident: 2. Search the undercarriage of the Suspect car. Determi there is indication of disturbance in the grease or dirt adheri 3. Make a careful investigation for replaced parts, ine also if ing to it. 1 Interview f Suspect. When the suspect is apprehended: 1. Obtain a Signed statement if you can. 2. Get a ful account of Suspect's whereabouts and write it down just in case he refutes in later. 3. Approach and a 8S Soon as hi Pprehend the driver of the iS identi Suspect car ty and whereabouts are ascertained, 4 Place the driver in a defensive position by properly directed SUestions upon approach. "SS Check 5.5 the lyze Carefully the statement or question before encircling the best rest answer, Nich of the following best describes hit-and-run accidents: “UU218 Lesson 5.5 — Hit-And-Run Investigation —— A. driver leaving the area of accident because he is in imminent danger. | | B. driver fleeing the area of accident to evade responsibility. C. after hitting someone on the highway, the driver leave and reported to the police. D. after sideswiping a pedestrian the driver fled to seek assistance of a physician. 2. When a driver flees from the accident area, always, he is evading | responsibility. This statement is: A. true ‘B. false C. vague D. doubtful 3, SPO1 Juan responded to an accident scene. Upon arri the victim | is already lifeless and the witnesses toid him that th PEC Couig nowhere to be found. SPO1 Juan should consider that the suspect left the area because the suspect: A. reported to the nearest police station. B. ‘looked for medical assistance. C. was in imminent danger. D. he might be wanted for another crime. 4. The investigator of hit-and-run cases’should prove that: A. the victim was killed during the accident. nving the Suspect ye" 5 ee ect is Wanted Tor another crime. “_ aes suspect is either intoxicated with drugs or unlicensed. » Which of the following is not an example of apprehensive-panic drivers: A. intoxicated drivers B. without license C. stolen goods in the car D. ignorance of the accident wn 6. When physically examining the body of the victim of hit-and-run accident, consider the following, except:[Lesson 5.5 = Hit-And-Run Investigation his clothing Z other parts of his body C his internal organs to possibly determine the cause of death. p, tire marks, grease or paint chips. 219 ‘puring follow-up investigation on hit-and-run cases, why the ” investigator should return to the accident scene: A, to have a vivid look of the accident scene. p. to appeal to the t.v. or radio programs. C. to canvass garages in the area. Dp. to obtain additional witnesses such as delivery men operating on scheduled routes. The objective of motor vehicle accident investigation involving the flight of one of the participants is two-fold. First, to determine who is responsible forthe collision, and the second is to: A. identify the driver of the vehicle who fled the scene. B. to apprehend the involved drivers. C. to file necessary charges against the responsible driver. D. to identify the victim in the accident. Which of the following is not included in the legal requirements for a driver who is involved in an accident: A. stopping B. giving aid C. ‘identifying himself to proper authority D. seeking assistance of physician 10. The following are the reasons why hit-and-run accidents should be investigated, except: - A. ensuring harmonious and comfortable environment. 8. lessening injury or preventing death. ed C. victims wi ropriately compensated. _ D aoe & Sa drivers who are inclined to evade responsibility in case they're involved in an accident. Sean220 Lesson 5.6 - Skidmarks as a Tool in Traffic Accident nvestigation en LESSON 5.5 SKIDMARKS AS A TOOL IN TRAFFIC ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION Concept Skidmarks. The sudden application of brakes which results in the locked wheel condition places great pressure between the brake shoe and the brake drum that the frictional force at this point becomes greater than the frictional force between the tire and the road surface. When this condition exists, the wheels skid. A. Skidmarks as a Tool in Traffic Accident Investigation. The following are the principles underlying on skid marks: as tool in investigation. 1. Measurement of skidmarks gives idea on how fast the car which left these marks was going prior fo the accident. 2. Estimates of speed based on skidmarks may lead to convictions; or knowing how to estimate. speed correctly may help to keep an | innocent person from being convi For example, skidmarks 80 feet long were measured at an accident scene. A test skid made 20 miles per hour showed 20 feet | long skidmarks. ‘It was argued in court that with skidmarks 20 feet long from a speed of 20 miles per hour, the car must be going 80 miles per hour to leave 80 feet skidmarks. The driver was unjustly convicted. His actual speed was more nearly half of that, or 40 miles per hour, B. Other Tire Marks. The investigators’ first job is to find out if the mark on the pavement is a skid mark or another type of tire mark. Thus, he must familiarize himself with the following marks that may be left by @ motor vehicle on a road surface:Lesson 5.6 ~ Skidmarks a8 a Tool in] cident Investigation 21 centrifugal skid mark. A markin, ‘ating tire and wheel of a speedin of the vehicle is above the crit ifugal force entirely or pe of the vehicle and 9 ON @ roadway left bya 9 vehicle on a curve when the tical speed of the Curve and the Partially overcomes the friction between its tires and the surface of the roadway. 2, Impending skid marks. Marks caused by the forward rotation of the wheels being slower than the forward Movement of the vehicle. The shadowy beginning of a skid mark along the approach path of the vehicle is the impending skid mark (a.k.a. as tire shadow marks), while the darker markings are the skid ‘marks which begins in ‘the impending skid-mark and ends at the point of collision or final rest. 3. Yawn mark. A scuffmark made while a vehicle is Yawning the mark made on the road by a rotatin 9 tire which is slipping in a direction parallel to the axle of the wheel. 4. Skip mark. A braking skid mark interrupted at frequent regular intervals; the skid mark made by a bouncing wheel on which brakes keep the wheel from turning. Compare with. gap skid. 5. Side Skid Mark (Scuff mark) the tire and wheel of a vehicle slidit other than centrifugal force It is.a roadway. marking left by ing sideways as a result of force 6. Gap skid. A braking skid mark which is interrupted by release and reapplication of brakes or which terminates by release of brakes Collision. © Other Marks and Impression Left by a Motor Vehicle either on the Road Surface or on the Other Motor Vehicle. When a motor Vehicle overturned or collided with another object like another motor Vehicle, it sometimes impresses or leaves marks that may be used to ify the motor vehicle, if it fled the accident scene. These impressions oF markings are: 1. Ruts, A sunken track worn by a wheel, as in road; hence, a 9roove forming a path for anything. Se - a222 | esson 4.6 - Skidmarks as a Tool in Traffic Accident Investigation eed 2. Gouge. A groove made by a hard part of a motor vehicle to another car after sidesweeping each other or it may be left ona surface by a motor vehicle which overturned then slid on the roaq surface. 3. Paint Strips. When a vehicle collided with other object, it sometimes transfers its paint to the other object. D. Skidmarks as Evidence in Accident Cases. Skidmarks will: Aid in determining the speed prior to the accident or collision; show if the vehicle was traveling in the wrong side of the road; indicate if the driver failed to observe the right of way; and also show if the driver did not obey a traffic signal. E. Skidmarks Do Not Show. All of the Speed. Skidmarks never show all of the speed of a car before the accident happened. They show only how far the car would have had to slide to stop in the distance shown by skidmarks. ' Evidence of Additional Speed. A car is somewhat going faster and often faster is calculated from skidmarks because in addition to losing speed is sliding the distance shown by the skidmarks, the cai 10sses some of its speed on one or moré of the following ways: 1. Sliding with one or more wheels before any skidmarks begin to appear. Dark clear skidmarks do not appear until the tires have slid far enough to get hot enough to smear, rubber or scar on the Pavement. This is less true on such materials as gravel and dirt. 2. Braking without skidding. Cases that the motor vehicle does not skid particularly. before siding begins, during gaps; and after mans and before the car comes to rest. 3. Dragging the car as it hits some object. 4. Damaging other cars or objects. 5. Sliding other cars or objects along the way 6. Vaulting or bouncing up into the air.Lesson 5.6 = Skidm asa Tool in Traffic Accident Investigation 223 a How to Estimate the Approximate Speed of Motor Vehicle in F skid Mark is not Present? In many accident of course, other grdence of terrific speed is the WRECKAGE (EXTENT OF DAMAGE), but there are no skidmarks at all because brakes were not put on hard enough to lock the wheels. The following guides the investigator: 1, When brakes are put on just before Contact of vehicles, the skidmarks maybe only two or three feet long and therefore, show a speed of only five or six miles per hour. While the wreckage tells that total speed may have been ten times as great. 2. In accident in which most of the speed is lost in skidding, the speed calculated from skidmarks May come close to showing how fast the car was actually going. Accidents involving pedestrians are the Most common ones-of this kind. 3. In any accident in which great damage was done will skidmarks show more than small part of the speed, often a very minor part of it; but if the skidmarks have been rightly identified and measured, it can be said that the car was going faster than the speed calculated from the skidmarks, much faster if there was considerable damage. & Thinas thot Determine Skidding Distance. How far a car will take to skid or slide to stop when all four wheels are locked depends on Many things. Three of these factors are important, and you must consider in every estimate of speeds based on skidmarks: Speed itself is by far the most important; sii the pavement; and arade or slon Sf the road whether road H. Other Factors that Affect the Skidding. Every driver knows, of Course, that it takes much longer to stop on pavements that are slippery, and that he can stop more quickly on an upgrade than downgrade road. OF Many other factors on which distance depends, none has had a fe Great effect. Most of them will affect a calculated speed by only a miles per hour. They, therefore, have a little effect on the speed“Sa 224 |. esson 5.6 - Skidmarks as.a Tool in Traffic Accident Investigation calculated from the skidmarks usually not more than a couple of miles pe hour.. Among those other.factors are the following: 1. Brake Pedal Pressure. When wheels are actually sliding additional brake pedal pressure will not make the stop any Quicker, Once the wheels have been locked and the car is sliding, the brakes have done all they can in slowing the car and the grab of the pavement on the tires is what determines how fast the car will slow down. 2. Weight of the Car. Makes a great difference in stopping distance before the wheels lock, but once they have locked, it makes a very little difference. It is true that it takes much greater pressure to lock the wheels on a vehicle when it is heavily loaded than it is empty. However, when the wheels are once locked, a greater weight of the vehicle, which gives it greater momentum, also causes it to press harder on the road surface and therefore, give it a corresponding greater drag from the pavement. 3. Tire Thread. On the most ordinary surfaces, a smooth tire and one with a deep tread pattern will stop the car in about the same distance. On some other surfaces, particularly on ice, a smooth tread is better because it distributes the weight over a greater area. 4. Air Pressure. Makes a very slight difference in stopping distance. On ice, for example, soft tire will distribute the weight a little more and give somewhat better traction. 5. Tire Material. There is a slight difference between tires made of synthetic and those made of natural rtibber. 6. Road Surface. Of surfaces such as mud, snow, and on ice, tires equipped with chains have a better road-gripping capacity. On some hard pavements, however, chains may decrease road-gripping capacity. 7. Direction of Slides. Makes a slight but unimportant difference. A tire will lengthwise except in materials so soft that it plows or sinks.j eson 5.6 Shidmarks 26.3 Took in Traffic Accident Imestigation 225 y a a ree Temperature of the Air and the Road Surface. Make some 8. ence. In general, on ordinary Pavements, hot weather produces ionger stopping distance. This is not necessarily on ice and snow. Against Head Wind. A car will slide a little farther from given eed with a tall wind than against a head wind, but this is not a matter of great importance. speed Estimates. For most ordinary Purposes, you do not have to tier those minor factors in establishing speeds from skidmarks, pecause the minor factors are neglected, we can not calculate speeds isely. We only estimate them. Some of the minor factors would tend ipgive a higher speed and others a lower speed, and they would partly talance or cancel out. Sometimes all of the factors tend to give a high estimated speed. In this connection, the skidmarks do not show all of the speed and therefore, the probable actual speed is still greater than your estimate. J. Facts Needed. Good estimate of speed is based on certain facts that come from observations and measurements at the scene of the accidents. The accuracy of the estimate depends upon the accuracy of these observations and measurements. 1. Length of Skidmark. Consider the following: a. Be sure they are skidmarks ~ not just tire marks. b. Did all wheels slide or just some of them? It makes little difference if tire is sliding forward or sidewise. ¢. Are there any gaps in the skidmarks? Be sure there are gaps Caused by a release of brake Pedal pressure and not skids caused by bounced. . What is the length of each skidmarks around any curves? It may Not make straight from beginning to the end in the shortest ine. You may want to consider two separate lengths for each Skid Mark. One of these is based on the Part of the Skid mark you can Positively identify. It gives you speed which will be minimum ~—Jolin Traffic Accident Investigation beyond reasonable doubt. The other is a possible skidmark which will give you a more likely speed. The first is all you can use in court, the second is often much useful in figuring out just what dig happen in the accident. e. Use the length that the wheels skid, not the tire slid. Dual tires which leave two marks are considered as one wheel, and the Skid mark length is counted if either tire on the wheel leaves this mark. f. There are two ways of figuring the length of a slide if all on the same kind of pavement. These are: (1) Straight Line. A slide is considered straight if both rear- wheel skidmarks do not go-off to one side of the front wheel skidmarks. (a) Use the length of the longest Skid mark left by any wheel minus gaps in it. This method is possible because all wheels slide about the same distance. We know that the brakes definitely have been applied throughout the entire distance of the longest Skid mark. (b) If one wheel does not slide as far as the others, still it was about to slide when the others began. The drag on the pavement by this wheel is about the same just before it begins to slide as when it is actually sliding. It may even be greater. (c) Therefore, we are usually safe in saying that all wheels are dragging as much as if there were sliding wheel skid applies. to motorcycles, trucks, truck and_ trailer combinations, and buses as well as ordinary motor vehicles. , (2) Spin. A slide is considered a spin if both rear wheel skidmarks do get off to one side of the front wheel skidmarks. (a) Take the length of each skidmarks minus gaps. Add the Skid mark length for all wheels and divide the numbers of wheels, (b) This method is necessary in the case of the spins because some of the wheels slid’ much farther than others:Lesson 5:6 ~ Dkidmarks 28.0°Tool in Traffic Accident Investigation 227 QC one end of the car may practically stand still while the other sweeps around it. (©) Use this method only when there is about the same weight on front and rear wheels; that is usually for ordinary cars, motorcycles, and light trucks with trailers or heavily loaded trucks having duel tires on the rear wheels, Uneven weight with a spin requires special calculations. (d) This method gives you a figure for the sliding distance of the vehicle. It is not necessary to compute it more accurately than to the nearest foot. For this length you may have two figures, one a positive distance and one a possible distance. g. Unfortunately, many investigations are carelessly made. For example, investigators may: (1) Fail to show whether all wheel slid. (2) Fail to include in the sliding distance a skid shown bya shadow as well as that more clearly shown by the smear of the hot tire. (3) Neglect to note whether they are gaps in any of the skidmarks. (4) Show only an_ overall length without separate measurements for each wheel. This usually includes the wheel base of the car with the result that the sliding distance appears to be length longer than it really is. (5) Fail to note whether the skidmarks are straight-or a spin. (6) Measure straight across from beginning to the end of a Curve skidmarks rather than around its length. h. If the facts are not all there, assumptions should have to be made about the distance the car slid. For legal purposes, you may assume only what may be true beyond reasonable doubt. Hence, Poor observations and measurements often leave you little value to go on. i. Nevertheless, reasonable assumptions regarding conditions which more definitely observed in investigations may be very helpful in coming to a conclusion about what probably happened. ason $.6 ~ Skidmarks as a Tool in Traffic Accident Investigation SS 2. Coefficient of Friction or Drag Factor. It is the measurement of the maximum frictional resistance of pavements. It is equal to the force exerted when the wheels are skidding divided by the weight of the car. Slipperiness of surface must also be known in order to calculate speeds from skidmarks. We-tell what this slipperiness by a number, usually decimal less‘ than 1.002» When any object is sliding, the surface it slid on puts a friction drag on sliding tire that slows the car, A slippery movement creates a small friction drag and an abrasive pavement a big drag. If we divide the amount of friction drag in pounds by the weight of the car in pounds, we get the number that describes the slipperiness. a. Principle of Computation. For example, the drag of the pavement on the sliding tires of an automobile is 3,000 Ibs.. The automobile weights 4,000 Ibs. The number representing the slipperiness Of the pavement, or its friction drag, is then 3,000 divided by 4,000 or 0.75. (1) This friction drag factor or ‘slipperiness number is called technically the “COEFFICIENT OF 'FRICTION.” You can measure the drag factor of a pavement by making a test skid which tells how fara car slides on that pavement while stopping from a known speed. (2) The drag factor or coefficient of friction can be determined by use of a formula. If we let "S" stand for the_ speed in miles per hour from which thé test skid is made and "D" the eStance in feet that car slides in coming to stop, then the drag ctor, Which we call "F", the formula will be: _ 2 Fes 30(D) (3) The "30" is the formula because speed is given in miles Per hour and the distance in feet (transformation of feet per second to miles per hour). It is called a constant because it stayed the same in all problems for which the formula is used a aedLesson 4.6 - Skidmarks a9 aT ool in Traffic Accident Investigation 229 5 ry ivision out m two places to the right of the decimal point. Out more than b. Applying the Principle of Computation. On @ test to measure pavement slipperiness, a car was stopped in 40 ft. from 30 miles per hour. (1) Substituting these numbers for the letters representin them in the formula, and doing the arithmetic involved, fe have: -$ “30? 900 — 30D 30(40) 1, (2) It is very important that the test skids to measure Pavement slipperiness be correctly made. You are unlikely to do it right without special experience. (3) At least two skids are desirable. Compute the slipperiness separately for each. Unless these are within 0.05 each other friction’ calculated from any of several test skids made on the same paving. This is necessary if you want to be sure beyond reasonable doubt of calculated speeds, (4) Test skids using the same car that was in the accident are the best. They thus take care of some of the minor factor such as the weight of the car, the tire material, the tread Pattern, tire pressure and therefore, make the estimate more reliable. 3. Grade or slope (Gradient). This is the degree of inclination or declination of the road. It is quicker to stop uphill than on level road and downhill road. a. Grade is measured by a number usually less than 1.00. The Measurement is the number of the feet that the road rises or falls for each feet of the horizontal distance. Se