Welcome to the May/June 2007 edition of the Accident Reconstruction Newsletter.

Last month we hosted the 6th Annual ARC-CSI Crash Conference in Las Vegas. It was our largest attended conference to date with about 250 attendees. The conference also received the highest marks from our evaluation forms from any past ARC-CSI Conference. I would like to thank everyone who attended for making the conference a success. Hopefully we will see you next year at the 2008 ARC-CSI Crash Conference. You can view the information from the 2007 ARC-CSI Crash Conference at www.crashconferences.com/arccsiconference/2007/2007arccsi.html

Last month we also mailed Volume 2, Issue 1 of Collision Magazine. We are now in our second year of publication and the feedback we have received has been very positive. We now have three industry partners supporting the magazine - NAPARS (premiere industry partner), IAARS, ARC Network and ASPACI with others planning to come on board shortly.

If you have not yet subscribed to Collision, you may still do so and receive Vol. 2, Issue 1 as part of the subscription. We also have back issues of Volume 1 available to order online. Please visit www.collisionpublishing.com for all subscription and back issue ordering information.

Next up on the conference agenda is the 3nd Annual Crash Data Retrieval User's Conference. It will be held in Houston, Texas on January 28-30, 2008. This conference will address many aspects of crash data retrieval from a variety of perspectives. Well known presenters will offer insight into crash data and using the BOSCH Crash Data Retrieval System. It will also provide valuable information on GM, FORD and CHRYSLER downloadable data. Collision Safety Institute will also be hosting a "Train the Trainer" CDR course immediately following the conference.

Now let's focus on the ARC Network and where we are. We have been working hard on many different areas of the ARC Network.

First, we have renewed our licensing agreement with Jeff Muttart and REC-TEC to offer DRIVE3 software free to all ARC Network members. It is a savings of $250. As a bonus, the users of the ARC Drive3 program will be invited by the program to purchase a dual install REC-TEC license at a $150 discount. This offer will only appear on the ARC member version of Drive3.

Second, we have recently launched a new searchable database in the ARC Network for finding specifications on Motorcycles. Our motorcycle database has over 2000 different models on the initial release and we will be adding many more in the next couple months. This database is free to use for all ARC Network Members.

Third, we want your feedback. We know have a team of web developers that can do just about anything I ask of them (with the proper details of the project). What would you like to see added to or improved upon in the ARC Network. Are there other databases you would like to have access to?, is there other areas that need improvement?, please let us know so we can add it to our development list. Remember the ARC Network was created for you and our goal is to provide the best organization and website to help you with your accident reconstruction needs.

Fourth, the ARC Network has made an agreement with one of the best website designing firms in Southern California to help with the ARC Network's website design business. If you are thinking about creating a website for your business, the ARC Network offers the best and usually the most cost-effective solution for website design and website redesign.

The ARC Network would like to thank you for supporting this network and helping us grow. Next year will mark our 10th year as an organization! Thanks and enjoy the rest of the newsletter.

Sincerely,

Scott Baker
President
The ARC Network

• Road Safety Performance Associated With Improved Traffic Signal Design And Increased Signal Conspicuity

• Pedestrians
• Crash Data Retrieval Orders and 2.9 Software

• Pilot Study of Accident Scenarios on a Driving Simulator

• Traffic Safety Facts - 2005 Data
• Collision: Year Two
• Brake Insite by M3consulting

• Endangerment of Pedestrians and Bicyclists at Intersections by Right Turning Trucks

• Vehicle-Based Countermeasures for Signal and Stop Sign Violation

• SRR Training
• SAE Symposia - Highway Event Data Recorder Symposium
• Advertising in the ARC Network
• ARC Network New Members
• Events, Conferences and Seminars
• Accident Reconstruction News Articles

Road Safety Performance Associated With Improved Traffic Signal Design And Increased Signal Conspicuity

Introduction

In British Columbia, 46 percent of all accidents occur at intersections that are controlled by traffic signals (ICBC, 1998). In an effort to reduce the number of intersection accidents, the British Columbia Ministry of Transportation (MoT) and the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC) have collaborated on numerous road safety initiatives. One of these initiatives has been to improve the visibility of traffic signal displays through improved traffic signal design and increased signal conspicuity. Phase 1 of this project was to test improvements to traffic signal design (i.e., larger signal Sayed (Sayed, et. al, 1998(1)) found that the improved signal design was effective reducing the frequency of collisions at treated intersections. This paper describes Phase 2 of this project, which deals with visibility improvements to the signal backboard.

Download the PDF

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Pedestrians

Background

While the number of annual pedestrian fatalities due to traffic accidents had generally decreased across the United States over the latter part of the 1990s (about 13 percent overall from 1992 to 2002, per NHTSA Web site), that trend seems to have changed somewhat over the early years of the new millennium (see Exhibit III-1). There were 71,000 pedestrians injured in traffic crashes in 2002 (per NHTSA Web site).

The number of conflicts and fatalities remains high in many urban areas and for specific segments of the population. In addition, results of travel surveys suggest that the observed drop in pedestrian fatalities in recent years may simply reflect reduced exposure rather than any gains in pedestrian safety.
The need to reduce pedestrian deaths and injuries (see Exhibit III-2), even in the face of ongoing efforts to increase levels of walking, continues to be an important goal for the engineering profession. Specific groups that do not or cannot drive primarily depend on walking for transportation, including children, the elderly, and low-income populations. These individuals comprise up to 30 percent of the population in many communities and are particularly in need of a safe walking environment to help lower their risk of injury and death.

The U.S. Census is the most complete information on the percent of journey-to-work trips made by walking. For the 2000 U.S. Census, the percentage of journeys to work by foot was 2.9 percent, or 3.8 million workers 16 years and over (Reschovsky, 2004). This estimate is lower than the 1990 Census data, which showed 3.90 percent of workers 16 years and over, or 4.5 million people, walking to work. About 1 in 5 trips involve travel to or from work.

Download the PDF

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Crash Data Retrieval Orders and 2.9 Software

I Got Hit, LLC a business unit of the ARC Network is now an authorized distributor for the entire Bosch CDR product line including CDR Sytem Kits, replacement parts and cable, and software subscriptions.

We have the new 2.9 version software in stock and you can order directly online with any major credit card.

I Got Hit and the ARC Network are becoming more and more involved with the CDR technology. Our goal is to provide exceptional service providing CDR equipment to those who need it and keeping everyone updated with this technology. Not only do we offer free training with the purchase of a kit we also have other special offers available only to those who purchase the CDR System through us.

We also host the Annual CDR User's conference that keeps everyone updated on what is happening with this technology and also the future of the technology as it relates to the software and the auto manufactures.

For complete information please visit our website: www.cdr-system.com.

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SAE 2007 Safety Technology Series on CD-ROM

Find out more by clicking here.

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Pilot Study of Accident Scenarios on A Driving Simulator

Abstract

This paper presents a pilot experimental study carried out by the Laboratory of Accidentology and Biomechanics PSA Peugeot Citroen - RENAULT (LAB) and the European Center of Safety Studies and Risk Analysis (CEESAR) on the RENAULT ESTER motionless driving simulator. Sixty-eight drivers were exposed to a dangerous situation in which another car failed to stop at an intersection. Three distinct configurations were tested : vehicle coming from the right either at a constant speed or decelerating, or stationary vehicle moving-off from the left. Kinematic data and a video presenting the driver’s face and the field of view were recorded. After the driving session, drivers were interviewed by a psychologist of in-depth accident investigation teams in order to analyze their interpretation of the situation.

The analysis carried out is based on a comparison of the behavior (perceptions, interpretations, actions) of drivers who avoided the accident with the behavior of those who crashed. It points out different kinds of difficulties according to the configuration : problems of perception (angular limitations), anticipation (no anticipation of the possible motion of the adverse vehicle) or interpretation (incorrect estimation of the danger level). It provides a basis for the determination of avoidance strategies and the design of active crash avoidance systems (intelligent collision avoidance systems as well as active braking boosters) with the specification (triggering threshold) and efficiency assessment of such systems. This study also provides data for accident reconstruction (e.g. reaction time in accident situations, motion perception threshold...).

Download the PDF

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Traffic Safety Facts - 2005 Data

Tables of traffic fatalities per state

Download the PDF

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Collision Magazine

VOLUME 2, ISSUE 1 NOW SHIPPING

Collision Publishing is proud to announce that we shipped Volume 2, Issue 1 in June 2007. This issue marks the beginning of year two of Collision Magazine. With more than 10 articles and a case study, calendar of events, organization news and other interesting features, Collision Volume 2 Issue 1 is also shipped with the 2007 CDR User's Conference CD containing all the Power Point presentations and supporting spreadsheets. If you don't already subscribe to Collision, simply go to www.collisionpublishing.com and subscribe online.

www.collisionpublishing.com

Back Issues Are Available
If you missed the last two issues of Collision (Volume One), you can order them online at
www.collisionpublishing.com/backissues.html

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M3Consulting - Brake Insite

Brake Insite by M3consulting

Brake Insite is a comprehensive air brake evaluation system designed by M3's engineers. They saw the need for an accurate, verifiable way to determine the condition of a vehicle's air brake system following a collision.

The Brake Insite can be used to measure:

• Air pressure
• Brake actuation
• Brake signals
• Pressure loss
• Pressure buildup
• Low-pressure functions (alarm, spring brake apply, etc.)

The Brake Insite can evaluate:

• Brake chamber stroke
• Tractor protection valve
• Low pressure alarm
• Quick release valves
• Relay valves
• Anti-compound function
• Brake adjustment
• Condition of air lines

To find out more contact Alan Moore at 321-946-1283 or alan@brakeinsite.com

For more information about M3Consulting and Brake Insite - click here

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Endangerment of Pedestrians and Bicyclists at Intersections by Right Turning Trucks

Abstract

Inside urban areas some accidents are occurring between right turning trucks and bicyclists or pedestrians. The consequences are exceedingly severe if the truck runs over the vulnerable road user. This paper will help to improve the knowledge how these accidents happen. Matched to this countermeasures are shown and discussed to reduce the number and the severity of these accidents. This contribution is a compendium of the research assignment of the BASt (German Federal Highway Research Institute) given to DEKRA Accident Research named Endangering of bicyclists and pedestrians at intersections by right turning trucks.

It includes remarks on the European regulations regarding the protection of pedestrians and bicyclists in case of collisions with trucks. This is followed by an overview of the existing standard of the knowledge documented in the literature. It includes among other things analysis of official statistics, in depth accident analysis and description of measurements to solve the problem. The study contains the results of the in-depth analysis of 90 accidents with involved right turning trucks versus a pedestrian or bicyclist. Outcomes are coming from the pre-crash phase (e.g. kind of movement), and the impact (e.g. location of collision, speed and angle). One of the main problems is the insufficient field of view (blind spot) of the truck driver during the pre-crash phase. Results of blind spot analysis of two trucks with two different mirror systems will show possible improvements. The contribution will finish with a description of the developed safety concept concerning the analyzed situation between right turning trucks and pedestrians or bicyclists.

Download the PDF

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Vehicle-Based Countermeasures for Signal and Stop Sign Violation

Abstract

This report provides the first two major task reports for a study to develop performance specifications and perform supporting objective tests for a planned field operational test (FOT) of a vehicle-based countermeasure to intersection crashes associated with light vehicle violations of stop signs and traffic signals (red lights). The envisioned system will warn drivers if they are in imminent danger of running a stop sign or signal, and is called the Intersection Crash Avoidance, Violation warning (ICAV) system. Task 1 consisted of database analyses employing primarily 1999 and 2000 General Estimates System data. This included a crossing-path crash problem size description by injury severity level, followed by increasingly detailed analyses of crash type, traffic-control devices, violation distributions and types, causal factors, speed behavior, and infrastructure components.

An estimated 261,000 light vehicle crashes in 1999 and 162,000 in 2000 occurred at intersections where one of the two vehicles had a stop sign and was charged with a violation. There were an estimated 133,000 crashes in 1999 and 99,000 crashes in 2000 involving traffic signal violations. These crash populations could be target crashes for ICAV. The Task 2 report includes a review of past literature relating to the stop sign/signal violation crash problem and proposed countermeasures, as well as top-level system requirements and preliminary specifications for future deployment and FOT systems, and for a testbed system to be fabricated under this project. The ICAV system for stop-sign violations is conceived as consisting of four functional subsystems: positioning, in-vehicle sensors, computations (dynamic algorithm), and driver-vehicle interface. The signal violation system requires these same four subsystems and, in addition, a communications link with the infrastructure (the traffic signal) to determine signal phase and timing. Using this functional system concept, the report outlines the fundamental performance requirements of the deployment system and identifies knowledge gaps in these performance requirements.

Download the PDF

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SRR Training

ACTAR Prep Course, Crash Investigation, Crash Reconstruction, Cad Zone, Commercial Vehicles, Crush, Human Factors, Motorcycle, Bicycle, Pedestrians, Report Writing

Chief Reggie Redfern (President/CEO -SRR Training) was a police officer for the City of East Hampton, MA for over 27 years and that department’s Chief of Police for 16 years. He retired June 30, 2002, and has since brought superior law enforcement training to professionals throughout the Nation through his company, SRR Traffic Safety Consulting.

Law enforcement must be prepared to face numerous, ever-changing challenges. The training received should be ready to face these same challenges as well. While the foundation of our courses is based on proven methodologies, SRR Training is constantly modifying them to reflect the latest trends in crash and criminal investigatory procedures.

If you are looking to provide your officers with a unique learning experience, or if you yourself wish to enhance your own professionalism, our courses and instructors will help you to meet your goal.

At SRR, we focus on bringing high quality, in demand courses to law enforcement officers throughout the Nation. Our instructors are recognized experts both on the job and in the classroom. Their main goal? The sharing of information and experience with those individuals that want to learn.

In today’s world, the most powerful tool a law enforcement officer can possess is knowledge. We pride ourselves in providing that edge.

www.srrtraining.com

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SAE Symposia - Highway Event Data Recorder Symposium

DATE:9/5/2007 - 9/6/2007
LOCATION: NTSB Training Center, Ashburn, VA

FYI: ARC Network will have a vendor booth at this conference. We will have information on ARC Network, Collision Publishing, and I Got Hit LLC (our crash data retrieval business unit).

Description

This SAE Symposium will provide a forum for the dissemination of new and significant technical advances, regulatory and industry standards development for both passenger and commercial highway vehicles, as well as legal and privacy issues which have become the forefront of both public legislative consciousness, often debated in publications ranging from Time Magazine, U.S. News & World Report to the Wall Street Journal. With its deployment and use continuously expanding, these topics keep getting hotter and hotter while generating interesting debate.

SAE created the first forum on this topic in conjunction with the NTSB in June 2003. Now, with additional DOT regulations and industry standards on the horizon, this upcoming program will focus on state-of-the-art recorder technology for passenger and commercial vehicles, recent developments and trends in data recording technology, current legal and privacy issues; as well as actual case studies which will demonstrate both the benefits and cautions related to the application of this technology as it applies to real world events.

Highlights
Explore the latest technology and diverse applications for vehicle recorder data, including:
*State-of-the-Art of Passenger Vehicle Recorder Technology
*State-of-the-Art in Commercial Vehicle Recorder Technology
*EDR Device Research and Validation
*Current Legislative developments and what they mean to you.
*EDR Privacy Issues / EDR Data Uses
*Accident Reconstruction & EDR Data through actual case studies.

To download a PDF of the agenda Click Here

For more information Click Here

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Advertising in the ARC Network

The ARC Network offers advertising solutions to anyone interested in promoting their product or service to the industry of Accident Reconstruction and Traffic Accident Investigation. If you are looking to target this industry... there is no better place to advertise!

The ARC Network understands all advertising needs are different. We have developed highly effective, easy to implement, advertising methods for companies to gain the most benefit from the ARC Network and also to fit your advertising budget. For all the promotion, traffic, and service we provide compared to other advertising methods you quickly realize the value of advertising with the ARC Network.

Advertising Options

• Banner Advertising
• Newsletter Advertising
• Products Directory Listing
• Page Sponsorship
• Email Advertising
• Conference Sponsorship
• Co-op Direct Mail Marketing

Why Advertise on the ARC Network?

1. The ARC Network is the most visited web site for Accident Reconstruction and Traffic Accident Investigation. We receive over 2.5 million hits per month.
2. The ARC Network is ranked in the top position of ALL MAJOR SEARCH ENGINES making it easy for people interested in your product to find you.
3. The ARC Network is a trusted, proven, non-biased web site resource for this industry.

Complete information about advertising with the ARC Network can be found in our advertising section.

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ARC Network New Members

Please welcome the newest members of the ARC Network.

If you would like to become a member and support the Accident Reconstruction Network, please visit the Membership Section and sign up directly online through our secure server.

Name	Company/Department	State
David Shields	ASE auto Inc.	TX
William Kluge	Research Engineers, Inc.	NC
Joyce Lancaster	SAE International	PA
Michael Carrasco	City of Sacramento	CA
Lonn Hutcheson	BIOMEC Services, LLC	TX
Charles Tappe	Murrysville Police	PA
Mari Truman	OrthoBioMech LLC	IN
Doug Johnson	The Walter Fedy Partnership	Ontario
Danny Champion	Champion Consulting	AL
Mike Baraz	Sonoma County Sheriffs Department	CA
Steve Anderson	Sanderson Reconstruction Consulting	Ontario
Bruno Belloeuvre	Erget	France
Michael Bowser	Bowser & Vaillancourt, P.C.	MA
Ken Drevnick	ARS Incorporated	MN
David Hadley	DLH Investigative Services Inc.	OR
Daniel Christman	Bothell Police Department	WA
Jeffrey Jones	Jones Forensic Collision Investigations	PA
George Maglaras	San Diego Police Department	CA
Micky Marine	Driven Engineering, Inc	AZ
Thomas Potter	Salt Lake City police	UT
Sheldon Stucki	Stucki Engineering Services (SES)	VA
Ronald Spejcher	Elgin police Department	IL
Robert Wyman	Wyman Enterprises, Inc.	FL
Jim Wheeler	JM wheeler and Associates	FL
Jay Urban		NE
David Snider	City of Gresham Police Department	OR
Douglas Shupe	Salt Lake City Police	UT
Cline Young		TX
Ronald Sanders	CARS, LLC	WA
Jon Sandage	McLean County Sheriff	IL
Christine Ostrander	L.A. County Sheriff	CA
Barry Noonan	RCMP	BC
Eric Naugle	Force Forensics Group, LLC	GA
Jim Napoleon	Jim Napoleon & Associates	NY
Charles Morefield	Hendricks county sheriff	IN
Robert Miller	Reconstruction Services LLC	KY
Howard McMurtrie	HL McMurtrie Traffic Services	PA
Edwin Konrath		AZ
Charles Edgerly	Andover Police	MA

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Events, Conferences & Seminars

The ARC Network host a comprehensive calendar of events relating to the accident reconstruction and traffic accident investigation industry. New events are always being added. It is free to add as many events as you wish. Simply visit this section of the ARC Network and browse through the current events or add your event to the list.

We have currently all courses from:

• SRR Training
• Northwestern University Center for Public Safety
• IPTM - Accident Investigation courses
• All classes offered by Rudy Degger
• All CDR Certification courses offered by Collision Safety Institute

View the entire Events Calendar

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Accident Reconstruction News Articles

The ARC Network continually posts news articles relating to accident reconstruction, traffic accident investigation and automotive safety. The newest articles are always posted on the ARC Network's homepage and all the archived articles are posted in the ARC News Section.

Following are the news articles posted in May/June 2007:

June 26, 2007
US says importer of Chinese tires must do recall

June 26, 2007
UPDATE 1-Help sought in Chinese tire recall after accident

June 22, 2007
Michelin Releases Motorcycle Tire Recall Information

June 22, 2007
DaimlerChrysler recalls 1,650 Smart cars

June 18, 2007
New Crash Data Retrieval system used in traffic investigations

June 04, 2007
Independent Government Study Shows Alarmingly Low Booster Seat Use Across Canada

May 31, 2007
Young Drivers & Alcohol: A Deadly Mix

May 31, 2007
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Acknowledges Volvo C70's Safety Systems

May 27, 2007
OKI Succeeds in Trial Production of World's First ''Safety Mobile Phone'' to Improve Pedestrian Safety

May 23, 2007
KTM Off-Road Motorcycles Recalled

May 22, 2007
This Memorial Day Teens Can Turn to Web for Safe Driving Tips to Survive 'Deadliest Driving Season'

May 16, 2007
Nighttime Seat Belt Violators To Be Targeted During National “Click It or Ticket” Crackdown

May 16, 2007
Study Warns of Dangerous Chemicals in Child Car Seats

May 10, 2007
Fall Hazard Prompts NHTSA, CPSC and Evenflo to Announce Recall of Embrace Infant Car Seat/Carriers

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Each month the ARC Network continues to grow with new memberships and contacts.
We now have over 850 members and going strong. We would like to thank everyone for their support.

The ARC Network would like to thank everyone for continuing to make the
ARC Network the number one web site for accident reconstruction and traffic investigation.

Please direct any questions regarding this issue of the Accident Reconstruction Newsletter to
the ARC Network

© 2007 ARC Network, LLC. All rights reserved.
Any comments, questions or suggestions should be e-mailed to the ARC Network.

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