《ON-SCENE TRAFFIC ACCIDENT INVESTIGATORS'MANUAL》

1. INTRODUCTION TO ON-SCENE TRAFFIC ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION3

Personnel Selection and Training3

Investigators' Responsibilities3

Collecting Facts and Information3

Objectives of an On-Scene Investigation4

Investigators' Inventory4

2. THE ACCIDENT6

Accident Defined6

Series of Events7

3. INVESTIGATION PROCEDURES9

Planning the Investigation9

Receiving the Report of an Accident9

Proceeding to the Scene9

Arrival at the Scene10

Leaving the Scene13

4. THE HUMAN ELEMENT15

5. QUESTIONING DRIVERS AND WITNESSES20

Driver, Passenger and Witness Information22

Interviewing Drivers and Witnesses23

Questioning to Clarify Issues24

6. ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS30

Highway Defined30

Environment30

Highway Examination30

Weather Conditions35

7. HIGHWAY AND VEHICLE MARKS AND DAMAGES37

Highway Damage37

Vehicle Damage42

Matching Damages44

Tire Marks51

Skid and Sideslip Marks58

Skid Marks63

Yaw and Sideslip Marks69

Debris71

8. VEHICLE MECHANICAL INSPECTION73

Expert Exarnination73

Mechanical Inspection74

9. PHOTOGRAPHY100

10. FAILURE TO REMAIN AT SCENE OF ACCIDENT106

11. FIELD SKETCHES, MAPS AND DIAGRAMS113

Field Sketch113

Measuring the Scene116

Grade118

Methods of Measuring119

Measuring Curves and Intersections122

Measuring into Lakes and Rivers130

12. SPEED ESTIMATES132

Professional Reconstructionist132

Skid Mark Measurements132

Coefficient of Friction135

Testing for Coefficent ot Friction135

Speed from Skid Marks140

Speed from Yaw or Sideslip152

Speeds from Falls, Flips and Vaults168

References175

Bibliography177

Index179