Accident Reconstruction Newsletter (Free)

Welcome to Issue #105 of the
Accident Reconstruction Newsletter

Below you will find the table of contents for this eNewsletter. Most of the table of contents are linked directly to the corresponding PDF document for easy viewing with the exception of the "Letter from the Editor" which is HTML based and detailed below.

If you have any questions about this newsletter please contact Scott Baker of the ARC Network (800) 280-7940 or by email arc@accidentreconstruction.com.

Table of Contents 

• Letter From the Editor - What's new in the ARC Network, Collision Magazine, and Crash Data Group and the AR Industry in general
  • Current Specials & Promotions
    • CSV Pro 2011 on Sale
    • Save 25% on Collision Magazine Back Issues
    • Save $100 on HVE-CSI Reconstruction Software from EDC
  • What's New in Collision Publishing - registration now open for 2012 CDR Summit, 2012 ARC-CSI, 2012 Train the Trainer, 2012 Boot Camp, and the new 2012 Collision Claims Expo!
  • What's New in Crash Data Group (CDR)
    
    
• Job Posting and For Sale
  • Wanted: Accident Reconstruction Engineer
    4X Forensic Engineering Laboratories is a multidiscipline forensic engineering firm. We are looking for an experienced engineer with a minimum of a of California license in mechanical engineering. Possession of a Nevada engineering license is a plus. We are expanding our auto accident reconstruction and premises liability disciplines. To this end we are looking for an engineer with at least five years of accident reconstruction industry experience. Any experience with premises liability and slip and fall analysis is a plus.
  • FOR SALE: Sokkia Series 30R Reflectorless Total Station
    Sokkia Series 30R Reflectorless Total Station in Original Case and a TDS Recon Pocket PC Handheld. Both with Original Manuals. Sold as a single unit. Paid $7,500 Original. Asking $5,000 Firm. Perfect Recon Beginner’s Pkg. Please call 210-614-1395 or send an email
    
    
• Run-Off-Road Crashes: An On Scene Perspective
  Run-off-road (ROR) crashes, which usually involve only a single vehicle, contribute to a large portion of fatalities and serious injuries to motor vehicle occupants. In this study, the National Motor Vehicle Crash Causation Survey (NMVCCS) data collected at crash scenes between 2005 and 2007 is used to identify the ROR critical pre-crash event, assess the critical reason for the ROR critical event, and examine associated factors present in the pre-crash phase of the ROR crash. The effect of anti lock brake system (ABS) and electronic stability control (ESC) on ROR crashes is also evaluated.
  >> View the complete study (PDF)

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Momentum

• Summary of Vehicle Occupant Protection Laws
  The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is responsible for reducing vehicle-related fatalities and injuries on our nation’s highways. Research has shown that effective State and local traffic safety laws play an important role in helping to reduce motor vehicle crashes. For example, in 2008, States with primary seat belt laws had a 13 percent higher belt use rate on average compared to States without primary belt laws.
  >> Download/View
  
  
• Preliminary Evaluation of Advanced Air Bag Field Performance Using Event Data Recorders
  This report describes a preliminary evaluation of the field performance of occupant restraint systems designed with advanced air bag features including those specified in the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 208 for advanced air bags, through the use of event data recorders. Although advanced restraint systems have been extensively tested in the laboratory, we are only beginning to understand the performance of these systems in the field. Because EDRs record many of the inputs to the advanced air bag control module, these devices can provide unique insights into the characteristics of field performance of air bags. This research program investigates the feasibility of using EDR data to evaluate advanced air bags. Specifically, this report discusses (1) the development of an expanded EDR data set based on data retrieved from NASS/CDS 2005, SCI, and CIREN in-depth crash investigations, (2) the validation of the accuracy of EDRs in full-scale crash tests, and (3) the feasibility of using EDRs to monitor the performance of advanced air bag restraints in real-world crashes.
  >> View complete PDF

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• Seat Belt Use in 2010-Use Rates in the States and Territories
  In 2010, seat belt use in the United States ranged from 72.2 percent in New Hampshire to 97.6 percent in Hawaii and Washington. These results are from probability-based observational surveys conducted by 50 States, the District of Columbia, and U.S. Territories. These surveys are conducted in accordance with criteria established by the National High­way Traffic Safety Administration to ensure reliable results. Compliance with the criteria is verified annually by NHTSA’s National Center for Statistics and Analysis.
  >View complete PDF
  
  
• NHTSA Vehicle Safety and Fuel Economy Rulemaking and Research Priority Plan 2011-2013
  This NHTSA Vehicle Safety and Fuel Economy Priority Plan describes the projects the agency plans to work on in the rulemaking and research areas for calendar years 2011 to 2013. This is not an exhaustive list. Only programs and projects that are priorities or will take significant agency resources are listed. Furthermore, NHTSA’s enforcement, data collection, and analysis programs -- vital elements in achieving NHTSA’s goals -- have their own set of priorities that are not listed here. Each of these programs supports NHTSA’s rulemaking and research priorities by providing necessary safety data, economic analysis, expertise on test procedures, and technical issues gleaned from enforcement experience.
  >View complete PDF

HVE-CSI Reconstruction Software

HVE-CSI:is a unique version of Engineering Dynamics Corporation's HVE highway safety research software that focuses directly on the needs of the crash reconstructionist. HVE-CSI provides the fundamental reconstruction and simulation capabilities used to investigate a crash by including two well known reconstruction software tools, EDCRASH and EDSMAC. These tools have been extensively validated, and results have been presented and accepted in courts worldwide for over 20 years.

Purchase by September 30, 2011 and save $100! - more information

• Older Driver Program 5 Year Strategic Plan 2012-2017
  The Older Driver Program is tasked with encouraging States to anticipate the plan for the arrival of more than 40 million licensed drivers 65 and older of the next 10 years. Although approximately 25 States include older drivers as a priority area in their State highway Safety Plans, few include them in their plans, and only one State has identified a specific older driver performance measure in its plan. Furthermore, many older driver countermeasure involved roadway changes (better signage, protected left turn lanes) or licensing regulations (ex-animation procedures, graduated licensing), making them the primary responsibility of offices other than State highway safety offices. Along with these challenges, many opportunities exist to promote older driver safety over the next 5 years and in years to come. These challenges and opportunities are highlighted in the next section, based on input from the expert panel.
  >View complete PDF
  
  
• Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards; Air Brake Systems
  his document amends the Federal motor vehicle safety standard on air brake systems to improve the stopping distance performance of truck tractors. The rule requires the vast majority of new heavy truck tractors to achieve a 30 percent reduction in stopping distance compared to currently required levels. For these heavy truck tractors (approximately 99 percent of the fleet), the amended standard requires those vehicles to stop in not more than 250 feet when loaded to their gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) and tested at a speed of 60 miles per hour (mph). For a small number of very heavy severe service tractors, the stopping distance requirement will be 310 feet under these same conditions. In addition, this final rule requires that all heavy truck tractors must stop within 235 feet when loaded to their “lightly loaded vehicle weight” (LLVW).
  >View complete PDF
  
  
  
• New Version 9 of Crash Zone and Crime Zone Results in Faster Diagrams
  The CAD Zone, Inc. announced the release of  Version 9.0 of its popular Crash Zone and Crime Zone diagramming software programs for law enforcement professionals.  Users claim the new features and more efficient user interface in Version 9 leads to completing diagrams 25% - 50% faster.
  
  
• MapScenes Evidence Recorder 8 Release!
  MapScenes Systems, the leading developer of accident scene mapping and reconstruction software, announces the release of Evidence Recorder 8. Evidence Recorder is the world’s best-selling evidence collection software built specifically for the professional reconstructionist.
  
  
• Retro Fit On-Off Switches for Air Bags; Vehicle Modifications to Accommodate People with Disabilities
  To facilitate further the modification of vehicles to accommodate individuals with disabilities, the agency is proposing to expand the existing exemption from a statutory provision that prohibits specified types of commercial entities from either removing safety equipment or features installed on motor vehicles pursuant to the Federal motor vehicle safety standards or altering the equipment or features so as to adversely affect their performance. In response to petitions for rulemaking from members of the mobility industry, we are proposing to include provisions from the advanced air bag requirements, the child seat anchorage system requirements, and the upper interior head protection requirements in this exemption.
  > View complete PDF
  

Here we are the beginning of August 2011 and things are really heating up! Since the last newsletter, we hosted the 10th Anniversary ARC-CSI Crash Conference. This conference was well attended and we had our largest fleet of relevant cars to crash. We also introduced a new crash test area at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway which proved to be a huge improvement over the area we had been testing. The new area provided much more room for attendees including a 2-story air conditioned building to cool off. It also provided more room for preparation and testing. We are hoping to have the same area for next year's ARC-CSI Crash Conference - www.arccsi.com. We have just opened registration for the 2012 CDR Summit and ARC-CSI Crash Conference so we are well on our way for quality training opportunities for next year.

For the CDR User's, we saw the addition of Fiat and Toyota to the mix of supported car manufacturers for the Bosch Crash Data Retrieval System. The Toyota release is one of the largest in years with coverage going back to 2001! The software and support for Toyota will be rolling out through the course of this year with the first one already out. We are hoping to hear about some additional manufactures in the near future.

For those who have not yet made CDR a part of their accident reconstruction tool kit, Bosch is reworking the way CDR System Kits will be sold. For one, they are lowering the entry price and secondly, they are reworking the contents of each kit. The "Starter Kit" will be renamed "DLC Kit" which means it will contain everything you need for a DLC only download. The "Premium Kit" will be discontinued and replaced with a "D2M Kit". D2M stands for Direct To Module and will contain all of the necessary cables to perform a direct to module download (including PCM cables). The D2M Kit will NOT contain power supplies, DLC cables, Interface Module or anything that is available in the DLC Kit. So, if you are looking for a complete CDR System, you would purchase the DLC Kit and the D2M Kit plus your choice of a 1 or 3 year software subscription.

Our new CDR Training web site offers end users with more options for CDR Training. We are working with third party CDR Trainers to offer technician level training throughout the United States and Canada. Collision Safety Institute, the leader in CDR Training, will continue to offer the 5-day CDR Analyst course.
You can visit the web site at www.cdr-training.com

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What's New with Collision Publishing

Collision Publishing has been busy wrapping up this year's training conferences and getting ready for next year's training conferences. In addition, we are currently in production of Collision Magazine Volume 6, Issue 2 that will also include the 2011 10th Anniversary ARC-CSI Crash Conference Data DVD! For compete information on Collision Magazine, please visit www.collisionpublishing.com

Here is a quick list of what's coming up in the next year:
(registration is now open for all of the training events listed)

• 2012 CDR User's Summit
• 2012 CDR Train the Trainer Course
• 2012 ARC-CSI Crash Conference
• 2012 ARC-CSI Boot Camp Experience
• 2012 Collision Claims Expo

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CDR User's Summit January 16-18, 2012 N. Houston Sheraton Houston, TX ACTAR CEU's Approved www.cdrsummit.com

The annual CDR User's Summit for the upcoming year will be held January 16-18, 2012 in Houston, TX. This Summit brings together industry experts to discuss relevant topics to crash data retrieval. This year we have an amazing line up of presentations and topics to help further your education with crash data retrieval. Some of the topics to for this event include:

• "Comparison of Toyota ROT and Bosch CDR Data"
• "Chip Swapping: Risk v Reward"
• "CDR Data from more than One Car? Fitting it Together."
• "Is a Search Warrant Required? Case Law Review"
• "Mock Admissibility Hearing"
• "CDR Admission and Expert Preparation"
• "RCM, PCM, RDS... Just Acronyms or a lot More?"
• BREAKOUT SESSION: "Backpowering a Vehicle to Image Crash Data"
• BREAKOUT SESSION: "RCM and PCM Data Together"
• More to come

Early registration and the savings of $200 is now open. Visit www.cdrsummit.com for up to date information and registration.

The annual Crash Data Retrieval User's Summit is a comprehensive training summit to further the knowledge of those who use the Bosch CDR System or who are involved with the collection and analysis of vehicle crash data. This summit covers user applications, case studies, legal issues, legislation and future development. Subject matter experts from around the world present on the newest topics and research as it pertains to crash data retrieval and event data recorders.

CDR Train the Trainer Course - January 19, 2012

Immediately following the CDR Summit, Collision Safety Institute is offering the CDR Technician Train the Trainer course. This very specialized training course is open only to those who have completed the Collision Safety Institute CDR Operator's Certification Course series since January 2010 or a previous Train the Trainer in the past 2 years.

This CDR Technician: Train-the-Trainer Certification course is an opportunity for qualified and experienced CDR Data Analysts to train others to the Technician Levels 1 and 2. This course provides qualified individuals with an opportunity to teach the one or two day CDR Technician Course; the prerequisite to the CDR Data Analyst's Certification Course. It does not qualify one to teach the CDR Data Analyst's Certification Course.

For complete information and to register, click here

Mark Your Calendar for the
2012 ARC-CSI CRASH CONFERENCE!
www.arccsi.com

ARC-CSI Crash Conference
June 4-7, 2012
Las Vegas, NV
Palace Station Hotel
ACTAR CEU's Approved
Registration information & costs

For the past 10 years the ARC-CSI Crash Conference has set the standard for excellence in live, fully instrumented practical crash testing and training anywhere.  Each year the ARC-CSI Crash Team has conducts multiple, fully instrumented crash tests that have been the basis for valuable insight into how various crash scenarios occur and have become the basis for a wealth of information on vehicle systems and operations.

Nothing compares to an opportunity to witness live, full scale crash tests and then have the opportunity to get up close and personal with the involved vehicles for a closer examination of the vehicle interaction and physical evidence. Then, at the close of the training conference, get your hands on the actual data, video, photos and other documentation of those tests to take back and improve your crash reconstruction job performance.

With 10 years of providing you with the most current information in the industry and the display of live, fully instrumented crash testing, the ARC-CSI Crash Conference is ahead of the curve. The 2012 ARC-CSI Conference scheduled to begin June 4th, will start with the crash test day as our Crash Team experts conduct multiple live crash tests. Following the crash testing experience, the training conference continues with technical presentations. The ARC-CSI Crash Conference prides itself on bringing a variety of exceptional speakers and presentation topics to expand your knowledge of collision reconstruction and investigation.

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SAVE $200 - Register by April 23, 2012 to get early registration pricing!

SAVE $50 - Save an additional $50 off current registration price if you are a member of the ARC Network or NAPARS.

For up to date information visit: www.arccsi.com

ARC-CSI Boot Camp Experience
Instructors: Rusty Haight and Bob Anderson
June 2-7, 2012
Palace Station Hotel
Las Vegas, NV
>> Learn More

With the success of our inaugural year of Crash Team Boot Camp we will be holding the course again in conjunction with the ARC-CSI Conference in Las Vegas.

This is an opportunity to be involved in the crash testing directly, learning more about the instrumentation, better understanding the outward appearance of "down time" between crash tests and then seeing what goes into the "data crunching" after crash day.

The goal of the Boot Camp is to allow a small group of those interested to learn about the instrumentation available and then plan and conduct one of the tests at the ARC-CSI Crash Conference. Then, the Team would be responsible for analyzing the data and presenting the crash data and their analysis on the last day of the conference.

Boot Camp participates will receive:

• Registration to the ARC-CSI Crash Conference
• Classroom instruction learning about testing equipment, planning a crash test, developing a plan and testing goals
• Working with instructors to implement the plan, conduct the crash test and "crunch the data"
• The Boot Camp Team will be given two cars to plan their test and parameters to work within and then set about developing that plan for crash day at the Conference.
• The Team will conduct a live, fully instrumented crash test at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway on the conference crash day
• Using the data collected, the Team will present the findings on Crash Data Review day
• The Team will then be given the opportunity to develop an article for publishing in Collision Magazine
• Each Boot Camp attendee will also receive an ARC-CSI Boot Camp Crash Team track shirt

The ARC-CSI Boot Camp Experience is LIMITED to 10 seats on a first-come, first served basis for registration. If you are interested in

Registration now open

immediately following the ARC-CSI Crash Conference
June 7-9, 2012
Las Vegas, NV
Palace Station Hotel
>> Learn more

Join us in Las Vegas for the Collision Claims Expo. This specialized 3-day expo will provide invaluable information and training in the area of insurance claims, vehicle accidents and crash data collection.

• Witness live instrumented crash tests
• Hands on demonstrations of collecting crash data
• Learn from a full review of the conducted crash tests
• Learn from leading experts on such topics as
  • What is crash data retrieval and myth busting
  • Crash data retrieval issues in insurance applications
  • SIU applications utilizing crash data
  • Low delta-V crash analysis/biomechanics
  • Developing a plan to manage and expand collection of crash data in claims
  • Dangers of misapplication of crash data in the claims process

For up to date information and registration, click here

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What's New with Crash Data Group

Crash Data Group has been busy keeping up with the rapid development of the Crash Data Retrieval System. Already this year we have seen many new CDR Software updates and new CDR hardware releases, including Fiat and Toyota. It is our commitment to keep you up to date with everything in CDR. As we get closer to the Part 563 Ruling, we are looking forward to supporting more auto manufacturers.

• Toyota Cable Kit - save $100 off MSRP
• List of supported vehicles through version 4.1
• CDR System hardware inventory checklist
• Fiat Cable and DLC Adapter

CDR or Crash Data Retrieval is one of the fastest growing services and tools in the industry of accident reconstruction. With the ability to image data from the involved vehicle's EDR, and produce a report that details significant data regarding the crash, many have seen the true value of owning this system.

Not only does the Bosch Crash Data Retrieval System allow you to expand your business by offering the "service" of imaging crash data for clients it has also become a necessary tool for supporting your accident reconstruction. The CDR System has also opened opportunities to be a "trainer" of this technology. As this technology grows and more industries become educated on the significance of what the CDR tool can do, it will make even more business sense to learn how to use and analyze the data.

Crash Data Group is the exclusive distributor for the Bosch CDR product line and we are committed to providing the best customer service available. As part of our commitment to our CDR customers, we keep track of all the software and cables purchased through Crash Data Group. At any time (during business hours) you can give us a call and we can check to see if you are missing any cables or the status of your CDR software subscription we can also help you determine the best package to get started in CDR.

Visit us online at www.cdr-system.com

Crash Data Group
(800) 280-7940 x2 - USA
(800) 280-7940 x3 - Canada

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