The Traffic Accident Reconstruction Origin -ARnews-

Re: roadway cross slope and skidding

Gary.Jackson, (gjackson@ghg.net)
Wed, 3 Jun 1998 19:35:41 -0400 (EDT)

The vector component accelerating downhill will be equal to gravity
times the sine of the slope angle (in degrees). For small angles, sin and tan
equal the angle in degrees, Sin*tan^-1(.03) = .03, so in your case .03 times the
gravity acceleration vector will be directed towards the shoulder. Of course this
will be opposed by any friction.

The vehicle can easily slide over the crown if there is an acceleration moving
it that way, i.e., rounding a curve (centripetal accel) or driver input. A vehicle
will not go uphill without some external influence.
Gary Jackson, P.E.
gjackson@ghg.net

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