March 2007 - Accident Reconstruction Newsletter

Welcome to the March 2007 edition of the Accident Reconstruction Newsletter. The ARC Network would like to officially welcome Michelle Jennings to the ARC Network team. Michelle has been with the ARC Network since August of 2006 and has been instrumental in helping this organization grow. Some of you may have met her at the CDR User's conference and some may have spoken with her when you call the ARC Network.

Michelle wears many hats here at the ARC Network: she helps research and prepare this newsletter, she updates the daily news, she manages the database system, helps with membership and renewal, and a ton of other stuff. However, one of the tasks that she performs (that I am very thankful for) is answering the phone here at the ARC Network. Most of the time I am available to speak on the phone, but sometimes I am not - this is where Michelle can help. She understands the ARC Network, the membership structure and can help assist you on a wide variety of topics. By her helping take phone calls, allows me to work closer on developing new areas for the ARC Network.

2007 ARC-CSI Crash Conference - Early Registration Ends May 1st!

Most of our focus this past month has been on organizing the upcoming ARC-CSI Crash Conference. We are working hard on developing an appropriate agenda to make the most out this conference. We have confirmed 16 industry speakers to present on various aspects of crash research, accident reconstruction , human factors and accident investigation. We have also put together a crash test schedule that will allow more time to document each crash and the ARC-CSI staff to put together a couple workshops that will be presented using the collected data.

As a bonus this year, EFI Global is sponsoring a low speed testing segment. The engineers from EFI Global and Biomechanic Research and Testing will conduct a series of low speed crash tests (prior to the ARC-CSI Crash Conference) focusing on bumper damage with rigid bumpers and a trailer hitch. Billy Cox, Jr. will be presenting the data on Thursday June 7th. All of the data collected will be included on the conference data DVD and distributed to all conference attendees on Thursday June 7th.

NEW Crash Testing
The ARC-CSI Crash Team has been working the past two+ years on developing "robosteer" for the vehicles we crash. This allows the crash team to drive the cars by remote control. This is important because it allows the crash team to conduct types and crash speeds that are very difficult to perform. One of the tests this year will be a momentum test using the robosteer and also a test involving two vehicles with one of the vehicles pulling a trailer.

ACTAR has just confirmed they will be hosting an ACTAR test on Sunday June 3, 2007 at the Palace Station Hotel. Those wanted to test into ACTAR should contact ACTAR to sign-up - www.actar.org. The ARC-CSI Crash conference has been confirmed for 21 ACTAR CEUs.

EARLY REGISTRATION ENDS SOON...
It's not too late to register for the 2007 ARC-CSI Crash Conference, however, time is running out for early registration and the opportunity to save $200 off the late registration price.

Register Online Today

Complete information on
the 2007 ARC-CSI Crash Conference
Click Here

Crash Data Retrieval
Another area of the ARC Network we are working on is the new addition of becoming an authorized distributor for BOSCH, the makers of the Vetronix Crash Data Retrieval System. Because of the logistics of becoming an authorized distributor in the United States and an authorized reseller in Canada, we decided to put this part of the business in the I GOT HIT LLC corporate entity.

I GOT HIT LLC is owned and maintained by Scott Baker, the same person who owns and operates the ARC Network. Just because it is a different name doesn't mean the dedication to providing the best service has changed. We are determined to build a strong network within the entity of I GOT HIT LLC to sell CDR hardware/software, educate the community with this technology and help bring this aspect of Accident Reconstruction to the forefront.

Please visit our redesigned web site at www.cdr-system.com. This newly designed web site adds the ability to purchase a new CDR System, replacement parts and updates. We have the entire CDR product catalog online complete with pictures for each part of the system.

2.9 SOFTWARE UPDATE NOW SHIPPING
BOSCH has just begun shipping the newest software update for the Vetronix Crash Data Retrieval System - Version 2.9.

This new software release provides you with the ability to retrieve EDR data from 2007 GM vehicles, 2005-2007 Ford Crown Victoria, Mercury Grand Marquise, Lincoln Town Car Limousine and 2006 FORD F250/F350/F450/F550 and Ranger pick ups. This is a software only update and requires either a 1-year software subscription or a 3-year software subscription.

Buy 2.9 Update Online: USA Orders | Canada Orders

Motorcycle Specs Database
The ARC Network has hired a new Internet development team to help redesign certain areas of the ARC Network and to add new features. The first new feature will be a motorcycle specification database. We are currently developing this searchable database which will be added to the Member's Only section of the ARC Network. This new searchable database should be ready by May 2007.

Now that we have more resources available, we are determined to continue developing the best network for accident reconstruction along with the best tools to assist in your daily case requirements. Please let us know what you would like to see added to the ARC Network.

With over 850 members and growing every day, we are the largest organization for accident reconstruction and traffic accident investigation.

Thank you again for supporting the ARC Network!

Sincerely,

Scott Baker
President
The ARC Network

• Costs of Injuries Resulting from Motorcycle Crashes:
  A Literature Review
  
• The Emerging Risk of Fatal Motorcycle Crashes with Guardrails
• Human Subject Crash Testing: Innovations and Advancements
• Review of Helmet and Helmet Law Effectiveness Studies
• Development of Point Mass Occupant Injury Criteria Using Event Data Recorders
• Collision: Year Two
• Logistics & Management II, Inc. Receives Event and Trip Data Recording Order
• Brake Insite by M3consulting

• TCRP Report 66: Effective Practices to Reduce Bus Accidents

• Comparison of Delta-V And Occupant ImpactVelocity Crash Severity Metrics Using Event Data Recorders

• SRR Training

• Analysis of Pregnant Occupant Crash Exposure and the Potential Effectiveness of Four-Point Seatbelts in Far Side Crashes

• Advertising in the ARC Network
• ARC Network New Members
• Events, Conferences and Seminars
• Accident Reconstruction News Articles

Costs of Injuries Resulting from Motorcycle Crashes: A Literature Review

Introduction

Good public policy decisions require accurate facts. But the challenges faced by the lay public when trying to read, understand, and use academic literature can often result in misinformation. Rightly or wrongly, findings about motorcycle safety, the value of helmet use, and who pays for helmet non-use can call forth controversies rivaling the findings on the causative link between gun proliferation and firearm deaths, between smoking and cancer, or between heavy drinking and injury.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) commissioned this independent study, whose primary purpose is to summarize and critically review the literature on motorcycle injury costs published in the 1990s. The review supplements an earlier review of helmet effectiveness studies (US General Accounting Office 1990 summarized and reviewed in Appendix). It describes what we know, the gaps in what we know, and what we need to learn. It emphasizes studies of prevention approaches, including helmets, protective gear, and rider training. It also focuses on who pays the costs of motorcycle injury.

Decision-makers,safety advocates, and motorcyclists need an accessible, scientifically credible review of the literature. This review addresses that need by identifying the best studies and summarizing their results. It also offers a handy, understandable summary of flawed studies and documents their major problems.

Download the PDF

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The Emerging Risk of Fatal Motorcycle Crashes with Guardrails

Abstract

The objective of this study is to examine the issue of fatal motorcycle collisions with guardrail based on U.S. accident statistics. Motorcycle crashes were found to be the leading source of fatalities in guardrail crashes. In 2005 for the first time, motorcycle riders suffered more fatalities (224) than the passengers of cars (171) or any other single vehicle type involved in a guardrail collision. In terms of fatalities per registered vehicle, motorcycle riders are dramatically over represented in number of fatalities resulting from guardrail impacts. Motorcycles compose only 2% of the vehicle fleet, but account for 42% of all fatalities resulting from guardrail collisions. Motorcycle-guardrail crash fatalities are a growing problem. From 2000-2005, the number of car occupants who were fatally injured in guardrail collisions declined by 31% from 251 to 171 deaths. In contrast, the number of motorcyclists fatally-injured in guardrail crashes increased by 73% from 129 to 224 fatalities during the same time period. Over two-thirds of motorcycle riders who were fatally injured in a guardrail crash were wearing a helmet. Approximately, one in ten motorcyclists striking a guardrail were fatally injured – a fatality risk over 80 times higher than for car occupants involved in a collision with a guardrail.

Download the PDF

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Human Subject Crash Testing: Innovations and Advances

Edited by: Lawrence S. Nordhoff, Jr., Michael D. Freeman, and Gunter P. Siegmund

For more than 50 years, crash studies involving human subjects have improved understanding of occupant and vehicle kinematics, helped explain injury mechanisms in lower speed collisions, and led to improved seat and vehicle design.

Human Subject Crash Testing: Innovations and Advances includes 42 of the most important historical and current studies which used living human subjects in frontal, side, and rear-end impacts. Covering more than 50 years of research (from 1955through 2006), the book includes numerous landmark SAE papers, as well as papers from other conference proceedings .Papers were chosen based on criteria that included quality and rigor of methods, uniqueness, number of subjects, and long-term reference value.

This book also features a comprehensive bibliography, which contains brief summaries of other relevant human subject crashtest studies that are not included in the book.

Download PDF Flyer

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Review of Helmet and Helmet Law Effectiveness Studies

In the last Accident Reconstruction Newsletter we posted an article that was a tad-bit contorversial, so here are some more artilces that should be read in conjuction with the last newsletter...

Overview

A critical review of six studies involving the effectiveness of helmets: Helmet Effectiveness Studies based on Variants of Correlation Analysis Which Support Motorcycle Helmet Effectiveness , Helmet Effectiveness Studies Based on Variants of Correlation Analysis Which Partially or Fully Contradict the Effectiveness of Helmets , Helmet Effectiveness Studies Using Regression Analysis , Other Methodologies Used to Estimate Helmet Effectiveness , Cost-Benefit Studies of Helmets and Helmet Laws , Studies Supporting the Risk Compensation Hypothesis for Motorcycle Helmet Laws

Download the PDF

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Development of Point Mass Occupant Injury Criteria Using Event Data Recorders

Abstract

This paper presents an estimate of the probability of serious occupant injury in frontal crashes based on vehicle kinematics information. Occupant injury risk is developed by modeling the human as a point mass and computing the occupant impact velocity (OIV) using the flail space model. Event Data Recorder data provides vehicle kinematics information for real world crashes with known injury outcomes. A data set of 211 cases is used for methodology development and preliminary insight to the injury prediction capability of the metric. Using logistic regression, injury risk curves are generated for all data, a belted occupant subset and an unbelted occupant subset. Based on the models, an occupant restrained by an airbag and safety belt is found to have a lower risk of injury than an occupant only restrained by an airbag. A 50% probability of serious injury is found to correspond to an OIV of 11.2 m/s and 15.9 m/s for unbelted and belted occupants, respectively.
Keywords: Crash Injury Criteria, Event Data Recorders, Flail Space Model, Thresholds

Download the PDF

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Collision Magazine

Collision Publishing is proud to announce that we are preparing to go to press with the next issue of Collision magazine. This will mark the first issue of our second year! The first year was met with great success and we strive to continue to bring you the best information as it relates to crash research, accident reconstruction and traffic accident investigation.

Industry Partners

We would also like to welcome IAARS as the newest Industry Partner of Collision. As an Industry Partner, IAARS becomes more involved the the magazine and also can offer it's members a discounted subscription rate. If you are an IAARS member and would like to receive Collision at the discounted rate, please contact IAARS directly - www.iaars.org. If you are thinking about joining IAARS, now is great time.

NAPARS continues to be our Premier Industry Partner, offering Collision to all of it's membership at no additional charge. Simply pay the annual dues to NAPARS and you will receive Collision as part of your membership. For information on becoming a member of NAPARS, please visit their web site www.napars.org

The ARC Network is also an Industry Partner of Collision. The ARC Network offers Collision free to all Police Agency members and Platinum members. For more information on becoming a member of the ARC Network please visit www.accidentreconstruction.com/members.

If you do not wish to join an organzation to receive Collision, you can always subscribe online at

www.collisionpublishing.com

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

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Logistics & Management II, Inc. Receives Event and Trip Data Recording Order

Copiague, New York (March 20, 2007) --- Logistics & Management II Inc. (L&M II) announced today that it has been selected by Global Liberty Insurance Company of  New York (GLINY), to supply its patented MACBOX III- (Mobile Acceleration Camera/Crash BOX) Dual System for use with’s Livery and Limousine Fleets with an exclusive for the State of New York.  L&M II will be supplying their MACBOX III full Non-Video Customized Wireless Services and Video Capture triggered upon an event tailored to GLINY’s requirements.  The dual system will be installed at GLINY’s designated locations by L&M II’s installation group.

L&M II offers a Modular Service Platform on which to deploy Safety, Security and Fleet Management applications that meet the business objectives of fleet operators of small and large fleets and operators of all major classes of vehicles and the insurance industry. The foundation of this Modular Service Platform is the most flexible and advanced Event & Data Recorder that includes trip data, speed vs. speed limit, multiple video source inputs, Global Positioning,Geo-Fencing, tri-axial accelerometer triggers, multiple network access methods, advanced mobile broadband communications and more.

L&M II’s partner Vehicle Monitoring Technologies, Inc., a Georgia Tech Venture Lab company has an exclusive license to commercialize the instrumented vehicle tracking, mapping, analytical, and data management methods developed by a team of researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology.  To date, these researchers have monitored and analyzed the data from more than 1.7 million vehicle trips collected on a second-by-second basis.  Their communications and computing systems automate the processing and analysis of detailed vehicle data to support efforts in driver safety, risk assessment/insurance, fleet logistics, traffic operations, and transportation planning.

L&M II’s President and Chief Executive Officer, John J. Mackey, said, “Logistics & Management II Corporation is excited about our progress and success with the significant upswing trend of our field proven MACBOX products in the insurance and auto industry.”

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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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TCRP Report 66: Effective Practices to Reduce Bus Accidents

Problem Statement and Research Objective

Accident prevention is a priority of every bus operation. Generally, practices that are used to prevent accidents and promote safe driving fall into one of three categories.

• Human resources—including training, incentives to reward good performance, progressive discipline for adverse performance, operator selection, operator work rules and procedures, labor, safety awareness, and intervention for employees at risk.

• Management—including accident data tracking and analysis, accident investigation, public and passenger education, hazard identification and resolution, safety inspections, safety committees, and supervision.

• Operations—including bus stop location and design; snow and ice removal; traffic and parking enforcement; route selection and scheduling; use of undercover checkers on buses; and technology applications, such as cameras on buses, “black box” recorders, daytime running lights, and dual mirrors.

Specific practices that are used to prevent accidents and promote safe driving vary widely among transit systems, although most systems use all three types noted previously to some extent. There is no comprehensive inventory of such practices for operators to readily reference, nor have best practices been evaluated in a systematic manner.

The overall objective of the research was to develop a directory of effective practices used to prevent bus accidents. These practices were based on a thorough inventory and assessment of the safety practices used by small, medium, and large transit systems. Particular emphasis was placed on practices whose reduced accident rate was found to be directly attributable to a specific practice.

The products of this project are expected to be of principal value to transit managers, transit operators, transit safety personnel, and risk management staff of large, medium, and small transit agencies.

Download the PDF

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Comparison of Delta-V And Occupant Impact Velocity Crash Severity Metrics Using Event Data Recorders

Abstract

This research compares the ability of delta-V and the occupant impact velocity (OIV), a competing measure of crash severity, to predict occupant injury in real world collisions. A majority of the analysis is performed using 191 cases with vehicle kinematics data from Event Data Recorders (EDRs) matched with detailed occupant injury information. Cumulative probability of injury risk curves are generated using binary logistic regression for all data, a belted subset, and an unbelted subset. By comparing the available fit statistics and performing a separate ROC curve analysis, the more computationally intensive OIV is found to offer no significant predictive advantage over delta-V.

Delta-V has traditionally been used as a measure of crash severity and predictor for occupant injury for vehicular crashes. The occupant impact velocity (OIV), as defined by the flail space model (Michie, 1981), is a competing severity metric used by the roadside safety community to evaluate occupant risk. Unlike delta-V, the OIV requires a full crash pulse to calculate a theoretical impact velocity of the occupant with the vehicle interior. Although this provides a more physically representative model of occupant kinematics, there has been no study to date evaluating whether the flail space model provides additional benefit in terms of injury prediction in real world collisions.

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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Analysis of Pregnant Occupant Crash Exposure and the Potential Effectiveness of Four-Point Seatbelts in Far Side Crashes

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to present the crash exposure patterns of pregnant occupants and to evaluate the effectiveness of restraint systems, including four-point seat-belts, in far-side crashes. The NASS CDS database revealed that 53.0% of pregnant occupants are exposed to frontal crashes while 13.5% are exposed to far side impacts. Given that far side crashes were the second leading crash mode after frontal impacts, a previously validated MADYMO computer model of a 30 week pregnant occupant was utilized to investigate pregnant biomechanics in far side crashes. Three impact speeds (5, 15 and 25 mph) were simulated with four restraint conditions: unbelted, lap-belt only, three-point belt and a four-point belt. Direct abdominal contact from the shoulder strap of the three-point or four-point caused uterine-placental strain in contrast to the inertial loading induced strain in the lap belt and unbelted cases. Overall, the three-point and four-point belt systems provide superior restraint effectiveness for the pregnant occupant compared to the lap-belt and no restraint cases. The four-point resulted in slightly better performance than the three-point belt by reducing the fetal injury risk and occupant excursion.

Download the PDF

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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
Bobby L Whitney Jr.		FL
Chris David	David Chiropractic	KY
Harry B Ryon	Maricopa County Public Defender	AZ
Sgt. Scott Showstead	Wellesley Police Department	MA
Eric Bowdle	Jenks Police Department	OK
Willburn Hart	Hart Case Management	FL
William Noyes	EFI Global	KY
Alain Boucher	Ottawa Police Service	Ontario
Kurt Greggs		IN
Brent Thompson	Collision Forensics & Engineering, Inc.	UT
Dale A Syphers		ME
Michael Kravitz	Michael Kravitz, P.E., Consulting Engineer	NY

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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 March 2007:

March 28, 2007
Hyundai Receives Five-Star Safety Ratings From NHTSA

March 21 , 2007
Ford recalls Super Duty trucks after tailpipe fires

March 14 , 2007
Woman awarded $2.5M

March 14 , 2007
Air Bags Linked to More Foot, Ankle Trauma

March 13 , 2007
Public Citizen Sues to Block Mexican Trucks

March 9 , 2007
Data Recorders in Cars

March 7, 2007
Automakers, Safety Advocates and Consumers Called on to Help Improve

March 7, 2007
Feds Consider Tougher Auto Safety Ratings

March 5, 2007
Use of Booster Seats Increasing

March 1, 2007
Tests Find Mid-Sized Car Bumpers Don't Do Much

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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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