CATAIR was founded in 1984, initially to provide all accident investigators, the majority of whom were serving Police Officers within Canada, a professional and affordable mechanism in which to meet and share experiences and ideas. The association has grown from the concept stage, with an original membership of fewer than 20, to a maintained membership of approximately 300. Membership is maintained throughout Canada, the USA, Singapore, Australia, and Brazil.

The IAARS was started in 1980 as a resource for members to use when the inevitable questions arose while trying to reconstruct a crash. The annual seminars not only provide instruction on specific topics by experts in the field, they provide face-to-face discussions on how other people approach reconstructing a crash. The old saying “two heads are better than one” is definitely true in accident reconstruction. Our association has “old-timers” that have worked thousands of accidents. If you have a question, chances are they have encountered a similar situation in the past and can give some insight on how they worked it out. We also have members very familiar with the ins and outs of new technology (Crash Data Retrieval, Photogrammetry) and are willing to help with any questions or concerns you may have.

IAARS 2009 Conference Registation Form/Flyer
September 14-17, 2009

Founded in 1984, the Maryland Association of Traffic Accident Investigators, Inc. is an organization devoted to enhancing the understanding and knowledge in the field of motor vehicle collision investigation and reconstruction. With membership comprising professionals practicing in both the public and private sectors, MdATAI strives to meet the interests and needs of all members, whether engaged in civil or criminal aspects of collision investigation and reconstruction. MdATAI offers something for all members from the entry level investigator to the seasoned reconstructionist.

Formed in 1991, the Michigan Association of Traffic Accident Investigators is an organization designed for investigators and reconstructionists from both the public and private sector, as well as other professionals who share an interest in the field of traffic accident reconstruction. The organization allows members to participate in a continual exchange of ideas and information and helps keep them current on changes taking place within this discipline.

NAPARS is a nonprofit specialized organization founded in 1984 whose members have joined together to share the challenge of dealing with the complex problems of accident reconstruction and to upgrade and ultimately professionalize the accident reconstruction field. NAPARS maintains its corporate and business offices in the Maryland suburbs of Washington, DC and is open to all persons who are interested in the fields of accident investigation, accident reconstruction and highway traffic safety issues. Currently, NAPARS has nearly 1300 members from all different kinds of background and disciplines and from all over the world, including police officers, engineers, private consultants and government safety personnel.

The mission of NYSTARS is to organize into one body, professionals in the field of ground vehicle collision reconstruction and related activities, who support and maintain a high standard of ethics, integrity, credibility and honor in the field of collision reconstruction; to encourage training programs relating to motor vehicle collision investigation and reconstruction through research and communication of matters of mutual interest; to promote traffic safety and foster a spirit of brotherhood among the organization's members.

Our mission is simple and long term. Provide members with a forum for the exchange of information pertaining to skills & techniques for the electronic documentation of crash or crime scenes, using all means available to them. In nearly all venues, “crime” scenes entail criminal acts whether on a public highway, mall parking lot, neighborhood park, up-scale apartment or low income housing. PSFM was organized with users of total stations, data collectors, prisms, & CAD software … regardless of brand name, model, or version of the Instruments or support equipment/software.

SAE International has more than 90,000 members - engineers, business executives, educators, and students from more than 97 countries - who share information and exchange ideas for advancing the engineering of mobility systems. SAE is your one-stop resource for standards development, events, and technical information and expertise used in designing, building, maintaining, and operating self-propelled vehicles for use on land or sea, in air or space. Seminars More than 15 SAE seminars are approved by the Accreditation Commission for Traffic Accident Reconstruction (ACTAR) for Continuing Education Units (CEUs). Upon completion of approved seminars, accredited reconstructionists can contact ACTAR to request CEUs. As approved courses, the fee for ACTAR CEUs is reduced to $5.00 per course. This is a great way for reconstructionists to obtain a required minimum total of 80 CEUs every five years to maintain their accreditation status with ACTAR.

Established as a non-profit corporation in 1982, SATAI's goal is to encourage and promulgate the development of professional technical accident investigation and highway safety; promote research and development of programs leading to better technical accident investigations; and to promote the development and dissemination of new knowledge in the fields of traffic safety, accident investigation and reconstruction. The Association is organized and operated for scientific and educational purposes.

The Society of Accident Reconstructionists (SOAR) was founded in 1982 to meet the demand for an organization that subscribes to a code of professional conduct, strives to increase the knowledge of its members, develops concepts for traffic safety, enhances automotive engineering, affords free exchange of information and is receptive to the demands of the industry. Membership in SOAR is open to people involved in all aspects of traffic transportation. This policy allows members to network with other professionals in agencies outside their own, and to develop interrelationships with adjacent professions in order to increase traffic and transportation safety. Presently, SOAR membership is comprised of active and retired police officers, professional engineers, automotive engineers and private consultants throughout the United States, Asia, Australia, Canada, the Middle East and the United Kingdom.

TAARS:

TAARS was organized in 1986 as an organization dedicated to advancing Research, Knowledge, Education and Safety in the field of accident reconstruction. TAARS is a broad based organization with members from many different fields, including law enforcement, private investigators, engineers and attorneys. TAARS has a current membership of over 220 members.

WATAI is the oldest of the technical accident investigation groups in the United States, and we are pleased to continue our growth into the new millennium. WATAI is a multidisciplinary group of individuals and agencies involved with motor-vehicle collisions. Our members include current and former members of law enforcement, investigators, engineers, forensic scientists, attorneys, and medical specialists. WATAI was formed in 1979. The purpose of the Association is to promote education and research in the field of accident investigation; to encourage interdisciplinary communication between the practitioners of accident investigation; and to cooperate and participate with other organizations dedicated to the science of accident investigations.