Transportation Research Board presentation "Accident Reconstruction & Event Data Recorders" by Dr. Robert McElroy

1. Accident Reconstruction & Event Data Recorders Robert C. McElroy, Ph.D. Forensic Accident Investigations, Inc.

4. Surface Low-Altitude Mid-Altitude High-Altitude Space EDR Application In All Transportation Delivery Levels Sub-Surface

6. Applications EDR Equipment Receiver E-911 Organizations Insurance, OEM’s Federal Government OHS, NHTSA, FBI, USCG, CDC, EPA, FDLE, FDA, CIA, FEMA, National Guard, FAA, FCC, FERC, FHA, NRC, DOD, NSA, NSC, Secret Service International UN, WHO, ARC, Interpol, Border Patrol, INS, Customs Community Agencies Police, Fire-Rescue, Hospitals, Schools, Business, Transit State Government FEMA, Reservists, Law Enforcement, Health, Media TV, Radio, Print Individual Driver Performance Assessment

9. Motor Vehicle Accident Reconstruction

11. Accident Reconstruction - Historic ELEMENTS Photograph Start Point Trajectory End Point

12. Accident Reconstruction - Current ELEMENTS Photograph Start Point Trajectory End Point

14. Evidence Analysis Example #1 18’ chord w/ 1’ offset Approach Turn & skid marks

15. Turn Radius & Critical Speed

16. Collision Analysis Diagram

17. Vehicle Damage = 37” Crush Ouch !! Evidence Analysis Example #2

18. POI to POR = 140’

21. Minimum Data: No EDR Night Approach, Underride Impact Logging Road Evidence Analysis Example #3

23. End & Start of Impact

24. POI – Logging Tractor Trailer DOT Retro Reflective Tape Marker Lights

25. Frame Rail Impact Evidence transfer

26. Side Marker Light

27. ? How Fast Was This Car Going ?

28. Historical Background -- or -- Could this have been an early example for The President’s Partnering Agenda ?

29. ?

30. President George Bush Dr. Bob McElroy

31. Time between collisions: 400 ms Rear-end collision Front-end collision Car to Car Collision Analysis Jan 13, 1953 Accelerometer data from center car.

32. Tachograph Data Recorder EDR Example #1

33. How It Works Chart Paper on Clock Motor & Stylus

34. Analyze Scribe Lines

35. Electronic Tachograph EDR Example #2

39. Equipment

40. Crash Pulse Time (msec) Delta-V (mph) 0 Increasing 0 20 150 100 80 60 40 120

41. GM EDR System Data EDR Example #3

42. Brake Pipe Failure

43. Accident Data Recorder EDR Example #4

47. EVENT

48. 4) Vehicle Data Xxxx Xxxx Xxxx 2) Video - outside - inside 3) Travel Path 1) EVENT Advanced EDR System Components

50. EDR Benefit To Society The Real Bottom Line: Public confidence in and integrity of the transportation system.