Research Papers (2009 – 2013)

Abstract

Road safety may be approached in a number of ways. In general, the ways are either statistical or mechanical. This paper considers the approaches and methods used by collision reconstruction experts. The analysis is based, in part, on the author’s 25 plus years as a collision reconstruction engineer dealing mostly with road design issues. The analytical techniques range from the very precise method of Newtonian mechanics for the actual vehicle collision to very speculative human factor analysis as a driver approaches the collision. Between these two extremes are varying levels of knowledge based on electronic data gathering devices, road safety techniques such as Conflict Analysis and Road Safety Audits and Positive Guidance. The outcome of the study is a method of trajectory analysis that shows how all the analytical methods used by various disciplines are related to the collision and the collision scene. The analysis also shows how this information may be used for detailed road safety analysis.

Francis Navin