The Traffic Accident Reconstruction Origin -ARnews-

Intentional Door Opening

• Messages sorted by: [ date ][ thread ][ subject ][ author ]
• Next message: Joel W. Cannon: "Appropriate parameters for roll/stability model"
• Previous message: Don Davis: "Re: Rotaing vehicles"

• Next message: Joel W. Cannon: "Appropriate parameters for roll/stability model"
• Previous message: Don Davis: "Re: Rotaing vehicles"

Use this form to reply to this Thread

FINDINGS

• 1) It was decided that common terminology was important. The actual tire marks left on the roadway were called "ABS scuff marks."
  
• 2) On all paved surfaces, ABS scuff marks were lighter and harder to see than a skid mark. 70 Kb Gif image
  
• 3) Though much less apparent than the skid, every dry surface test left a clearly defined, measurable ABS scuff mark. The beginning of the mark was well defined. Everyone could agree on the scuff mark length.
  
• 4) In every dry ABS test, the tires showed conclusive evidence of the stop.
  
  
  • a) Tire faces were speckled with longitudinally oriented circumferential marks. These markings are similar to the striations on a yawing tire face, but shorter and oriented along the tire axis.180 Kb Gif image
    
  • b) This speckling was more apparent on front tires than rear. 46 Kb Gif image
  
  
• 5) ABS scuff marks were of inconstant darkness along their length. There were dark and light sections within the mark.
  
• 6) Detail frequently discernable within a skid was usually lost in the ABS scuff mark.
  
  • a) An individual tires scuff length was not apparent within the ABS scuff mark. For example, front and rear tire marks were difficult to separate.35 Kb Gif image
    
  • b) The number of tire ribs was not apparent in the ABS scuff mark.
    
• 7) Dry surface ABS scuff marks are most easily viewed in the direction of vehicle approach, at some distance from their beginning, and at a small angle (get away and get low).30 Kb Gif image
  
• 8) Steering inputs can be apparent within the ABS scuff mark. 35 Kb Gif image
  
• 9) ABS scuff marks are short-lived evidence. Of the seven tests done on very lightly traveled paved surfaces, only two were measurable 24 hours later.
  
• 10) When the vehicles were viewed in their rest locations, the ABS scuff marks could be correlated with a particular stopping event.
  
• 11) The one wet test attempted was much more difficult to interpret for tire face speckling, and scuff mark length.30 Kb Gif image 72 Kb Gif image

The on scene procedure suggested by the group was to first check the front tires for the telltale speckling. These marks should be obvious, and will guide the investigator to look for more. The search for the ABS scuff mark should be made as soon as possible after the collision. Methods for preserving and identifying this evidence include good lighting, low viewpoint, and limiting roadway use in the area of the suspected scuff mark.

In the past, an understanding of driver action and vehicle movement was frequently based upon skid mark evidence. The tests done by this group indicate that with a bit of effort, the same information is also available from an ABS scuff mark.

Note: A 5 minute Law Enforcement training video is available for $25.

Contact:
Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office
Vehicle Homicide Investigations Unit
3228 Gun Club Road
West Palm Beach, FL. 33406

Notes:

• Files with *.prn extensions require a g-Analyst to view the data graphically. When viewed without a g-Analyst, each line reads g fore aft, g left right, and a marker (-1=EOF). Each line is data for 1/10 of a second.

• Files with a *.txt extension can be viewed without software support.

• Test numbers refer to the table above (eg: abs03 was on surface 3).

41 Kb gif- ABS scuff on dry Genite
abs02.txt
abs02.prn
44 Kb gif- Skid on dry Genite
skid02.txt
skid02.prn

58 Kb gif- Skid and ABS scuff on wet Genite
abs03.txt
abs03.prn
skid03.txt
skid03.prn

77 Kb gif- Skid and ABS scuff on old S-1 Asphalt
abs04.txt
abs04.prn
skid04.txt
skid04.prn

46 Kb gif- ABS scuff on Compacted Rock
abs05.txt
abs05.prn
56 Kb gif- Skid on Compacted Rock
skid05.txt
skid05.prn

Concrete old dry - no photos available
abs06.txt
abs06.prn
skid06.txt
skid06.prn

78 Kb gif- Skid and ABS scuff on dry Grass
abs07.txt
abs07.prn
skid07.txt
skid07.prn

54 Kb gif- ABS scuff on old FC-2 Asphalt
abs08.txt
abs08.prn
58 Kb gif- Skid on old FC-2 Asphalt
skid08.txt
skid08.prn

There was no test #9

84 Kb gif- ABS scuff on new S-1 Asphalt
abs10.txt
abs10.prn
84 Kb gif- Skid on new S-1 Asphalt
skid10.txt
skid10.prn

Florida Highway Patrol: Inv. John Cataldo, Inv Scott Ratliff

Delray Beach Police Dept: Ofc Richard Jacobson, Ofc Robert Bradley, Ofc Robert Bradley

Jupiter Police Dept: Sgt. Sam Miller, Ofc David Schultz

Martin County Sheriffs Office: Sgt Bob Wright, Sgt Steele Ritter, D/S Ray Goughnour

Palm Beach County Sheriffs Office: Sgt Kerry Fleming, Sgt Dave Johnson, Inv. Bill Wright, Inv. Sal D'Alessandro, Inv. John Prieschl, Inv. Russ Pruitt, Inv. Larry Colagiovanni, Inv. Dave Rander, Inv. Al Steinmetz, Inv. Bob Brown

Palm Beach County State Attorneys Office: Ellen Roberts

Palm Beach County Engineering and Public Works: Tanya McConnell PE

Palm Beach Police Dept: Ofc Ron Frick, Ofc Kurt Burfield, Ofc Richard Howe

Royal Palm Beach Police Dept: Ofc Roger Shoeman

Zook Moore & Associates: Richard Ryabik PE

Copyright ©