1. INTRODUCTION TO ON-SCENE TRAFFIC ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION 3
Personnel Selection and Training 3
Investigators' Responsibilities 3
Collecting Facts and Information 3
Objectives of an On-Scene Investigation 4
Investigators' Inventory 4
2. THE ACCIDENT 6
Accident Defined 6
Series of Events 7
3. INVESTIGATION PROCEDURES 9
Planning the Investigation 9
Receiving the Report of an Accident 9
Proceeding to the Scene 9
Arrival at the Scene 10
Leaving the Scene 13
4. THE HUMAN ELEMENT 15
5. QUESTIONING DRIVERS AND WITNESSES 20
Driver, Passenger and Witness Information 22
Interviewing Drivers and Witnesses 23
Questioning to Clarify Issues 24
6. ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS 30
Highway Defined 30
Environment 30
Highway Examination 30
Weather Conditions 35
7. HIGHWAY AND VEHICLE MARKS AND DAMAGES 37
Highway Damage 37
Vehicle Damage 42
Matching Damages 44
Tire Marks 51
Skid and Sideslip Marks 58
Skid Marks 63
Yaw and Sideslip Marks 69
Debris 71
8. VEHICLE MECHANICAL INSPECTION 73
Expert Exarnination 73
Mechanical Inspection 74
9. PHOTOGRAPHY 100
10. FAILURE TO REMAIN AT SCENE OF ACCIDENT 106
11. FIELD SKETCHES, MAPS AND DIAGRAMS 113
Field Sketch 113
Measuring the Scene 116
Grade 118
Methods of Measuring 119
Measuring Curves and Intersections 122
Measuring into Lakes and Rivers 130
12. SPEED ESTIMATES 132
Professional Reconstructionist 132
Skid Mark Measurements 132
Coefficient of Friction 135
Testing for Coefficent ot Friction 135
Speed from Skid Marks 140
Speed from Yaw or Sideslip 152
Speeds from Falls, Flips and Vaults 168
References 175
Bibliography 177
Index 179