The Traffic Accident Reconstruction Origin -ARnews-

Excessive acceleration of 4 wheel drive vehicles on level ground.

Emanuel Sarfaty P.E. (e.sarfaty@worldnet.att.net)
Sat, 13 Apr 1996 11:06:11 -0400 (EDT)

I am interested in obtaining the experiences of other accident reconstruc
tionists concerning excessive acceleration of 4 wheel drive vehicles on
level surfaces. I am involved in a case which resulted in two casualties
one fatality and one injury when the vehicle was started from a stationary
position.The engine was started with the driver's foot on the floor of the
vehicle. He did not have his foot on either the brake or the accelerator
pedal.The driver then moved his gear shift lever from park into drive and
the vehicle accelerated rapidly hitting two pedestrians. The vehicle
was stopped after hitting a utility pole 40' away. The fatality occurred at
15'.In that time the driver did not have time to put his foot on the brake.
The year of the vehicle though recent did not have a shift lock device
which would have prevented the driver from moving his gear shift lever into
drive without his foot being on the brake first.
The vehicle has been examined and was found to have nothing mechanically
wrong with it. However we did find that the vehicle was inadvertantly in
four wheel drive mode when the incident occurred.
If anyone has any thoughts on this kind of accident or on the reactions of
vehicles when placed in 4 wheel drive mode on level surfaces please forward them.
All suggestions are welcome.
Emanuel Sarfaty P.E.
e.sarfaty@worldnet.att.net

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