Symposium on Traffic Safety May 19-22, 2025

Advanced Investigative Techniques

• Case Preparation and Courtroom Testimony: The Mental Game (Mike Catalano)

  - Mike Catalano, Consultant, Trainer and Author

  This session will focus on the importance of documenting scenes and will provide a template for investigative purposes and case file preparation. We will cover the role of a witness and highlight the differences between a witness and an expert witness. The second half of the presentation will address the mental aspects of achieving success in our work, in the courtroom, and in our everyday activities.

• Critical Speed Yaw: Theory, Practice, and Cautions (Wade Bartlett)

  - Wade Bartlett, MFES, LLC

  Critical Speed Yaw has been used for many years to estimate a vehicle's speed while navigating a curved path "at the limit." Its simplicity is appealing, but this same quality can also pose dangers. In this discussion, I will outline the analytical basis of the theory, provide tips for its application at the scene, address its limitations and common misconceptions, and recommend some literature for practitioners to explore.

• Functional Anatomy for the Crash Reconstructionist (Cameron Trepeck)
  - Cameron Trepeck, PhD, PE, ACTAR

  This session will provide a fundamental overview of the common anatomical terminology used in the biomechanical aspects of vehicle accident reconstruction. Investigators and reconstructionists will learn about the different segments of the human body, as well as how these segments move and interact with each other and the surrounding vehicle environment. The presentation will also review medical documentation, including operative notes, autopsy reports, and imaging records, to help build a comprehensive understanding alongside the physical evidence from motor vehicle crashes. This session serves as an introductory foundation in human anatomy and biomechanics specifically tailored for vehicle accident reconstruction.

• Danger! High Voltage! What You Don't Know Could Kill You! (Roman Serrano)
  - Sergeant Roman Serrano (Ret.), Triple A and J Solutions, LLC

  The presentation will explore the history and evolution of hybrid electric vehicles up to the present day. It will discuss how to identify these vehicles and highlight the manufacturers that currently offer them in their fleets. Finally, the presentation will conclude with information on how to disable these vehicles and address other associated dangers.

• Legal Issues Surrounding Electronic Equipment and the Seizure of Equipment on the Scene of a Crash (Stephen Bridger)
  - Stephen Bridger, Pinal County (AZ) Attorney's Office

  This presentation will discuss the types of evidence that can be seized from vehicles and individuals. It will review warrant requirements and the exceptions to those requirements, covering both case law and real-world scenarios.

• Mastering Motion: Exploring Lateral and Forward Acceleration in Time & Distance Equations (Jeff Muttart)
  - Jeff Muttart, Ph.D., Driver Research Institute

  Gain insights into how drivers swerved and accelerated, exploring how they adjusted their speeds during various driving scenarios. Enhance your understanding of driver dynamics to better apply time and distance calculations by learning from past driving behaviors.

• Occupant Kinematics in Rollover Cases (Toby Gloekler)
  - Toby Gloekler, P.E., ACTAR

  Techniques for analyzing vehicle rollover collisions will be presented, covering the following topics: scene documentation; identification of causes of rollover events; determination of speed at the time of the rollover; roll direction; and angular acceleration. We will also study occupant kinematics during rollover events, including the effectiveness of active and passive restraint systems, identification of ejection portals, and the significance of occupant positions at rest. Case studies and computer modeling software will be utilized to demonstrate and visualize occupant motion during these events. This breakout session is designed for accident investigators at any level of experience.

• Rotational Mechanics - A Pathway for Understanding Rigid Body Mechanics and Effective Mass (John Daily)
  - John Daily, MSME, Jackson Hole Scientific Investigations, Inc.

  Most core courses in Traffic Crash Reconstruction utilize Particle Dynamics analysis to track what the Center of Mass before, during, and after a collision. While these methods are well-tested and effective, they have limitations when examining the dynamics of vehicles and occupants involved in a crash. Rigid Body Dynamics recognizes that objects are actually distributed around the Center of Mass. As a result, acceleration vectors away from the Center of Mass may differ from those derived from Particle Dynamics analysis alone. This concept is crucial for analyzing Event Data Recorder (EDR) data, conducting Crash III impact analysis, and understanding occupant kinematics.

• A Simplified Load Analysis for Truck Rollovers (Frank Navin)
  - Frank Navin, Professor Emeritus, Civil Engineering, UBC

  The rollover acceleration of an empty truck can be assumed to be constant for a standard truck. To analyze the load, its height and mass are considered to calculate a LOAD FACTOR. For a standard truck in a rollover collision, both the height and mass of the load are measured. The rollover acceleration of a loaded truck is then estimated by multiplying the constant rollover acceleration of the empty truck by the LOAD FACTOR. This estimated rollover acceleration helps determine if further, more detailed analysis is necessary. The paper derives the equations for LOAD FACTORS from first principles and provides a set of LOAD FACTOR tables for typical loads, such as general cargo, concrete, and liquids.

• Smile... You're on Camera. Working with media at high profile traffic crashes and 1st amendment auditors. (Steve Carbajal)
  - Sergeant Steven Carbajal, Tempe (AZ) Police Department

  In this session, you will learn effective strategies for managing media during a high-profile traffic crash investigation. We will discuss how to succeed when you are called to appear on camera. Additionally, we will cover the topic of First Amendment auditors: who they are, what they do, and how you can avoid going viral in their presence.

• So You Want to Monte Carlo (Ken Strohmeyer)
  - Detective Ken Strohmeyer, Scottsdale (AZ) Police Department

  Monte Carlo Analysis, also known as a stochastic simulation technique, involves conducting "numerical experiments" to observe average outcomes over a large number of runs of a stochastic model. What benefits does this analysis provide? How can it be integrated with other forms of data to address real-world scenarios? In what ways does it help us understand data sensitivities? Join the discussion as we explore this valuable tool in our ever-expanding toolbox.

• Stiffness Values, Crash Test Data, Problems, and Common Misconceptions (Daniel Vomhof III)
  - Daniel Vomhof III, 4N6XPRT Systems

  Stiffness values are commonly calculated from the data found in the NHTSA Crash Test database. This session will examine and discuss various underlying issues with the data, as well as common misconceptions about the available information. We will explore the reasons behind certain limitations, the impact of those limitations on calculations, and provide a comparison of the database content with the actual data that exists.

• What you NEED to Know about Tires and Information on New Trends (T.J. Tennent)
  - T.J. Tennent, Owner, Tennent, Winkleman and Associates

  This discussion will cover the fundamentals of tires and provide updates on new tire information. We will explore how to maintain the tires in your fleet, what types of tires are suitable for electric and hybrid vehicles, the information to collect during a crash, and how new vehicle regulations impact the tires used in your service.

Crash Testing

• Instrumented Crash Testing Sponsored by Leica Geosystems

  Off-site crash testing will take place on Monday afternoon. Details to follow.

  Sponsored by Leica Geosystems

  

• Post-Crash Data Analysis and Review
  Our team of reconstructionists will present an in-depth analysis of the crash tests conducted on Monday afternoon in two identical sessions on Thursday.

EDR

• Bosch CDR Tool Technician Update (Kent E. Boots)
  - Kent E. Boots, Kent E. Boots & Associates

  This session will focus on hardware and software updates related to the Bosch CDR tool. We will cover fundamental concepts by reviewing the Bosch CDR help file to identify which tool to use and which modules are potentially supported. We will discuss newer supported modules, including General Motors active safety components (ASCM, FCM), as well as regular production option (RPO) codes. Additionally, we will cover the Jeep driver-view camera module (DCM) and the procedure for connecting it to the vehicle. There will also be an update on back powering and repowering processes. Finally, we will provide an overview of the CDR2 software program, specifically focusing on when it should be used.

• EDR in Traffic Crash Reconstruction Update (Hamed Sadrnia)
  - Hamed Sadrnia, Engineering Consultant, Timothy D. Brown & Associates

  The presentation will assess the current state of Event Data Recorders in traffic crash reconstruction, highlighting the changes since the last symposium that have impacted access, coverage, and analysis. We will also discuss expansion in the usage of CDR2, if any. Additionally, a general overview of manufacturer-specific data will be included.

• Tesla EDR and ADAS (Weston Brown)
  - Weston Brown, Weston Forensic Collision Investigators

  This session will cover Tesla EDR data and the Tesla EDR tool, along with a related Tesla case study. Additionally, there will be a brief discussion of other manufacturers' ADAS EDR data elements and an associated case.

• Toyota GTS Plus: Downloading and Using the Data (Andrew Rich)
  - Andrew Rich, Rich Consulting LLC

  Toyota's TSI software will be discontinued at the end of 2024. VCH and FFD image data will be accessible through the new web-based GTS Plus software. This session will demonstrate how to download Toyota VCH and FFD image data from both the DLC and directly from the module or camera. We will also explain the use of Toyota data through various case studies.

New Technology

• Economical 3D Documentation for Collision Reconstruction (Eugene Liscio)
  - Eugene Liscio, P. Eng., Recon-3D

  The use of 3D technologies, such as laser scanners, photogrammetry, and handheld scanners, for documenting and analyzing collision scenes are extremely powerful tools. Research in this field has demonstrated that the accuracy and repeatability of measurements using these technologies match or even exceed those of traditional methods. 3D technologies enable the recording of more complex scenes while significantly reducing documentation time. Additionally, new sensors and devices are becoming available at more affordable prices, which previously came at the cost of accuracy. This presentation provides an update on what low-cost 3D technologies (both hardware and software) can do to supply data suitable for forensic purposes.

• The Human Factor in ADAS (Dave Sersen)
  - Dave Sersen, New York State Police

  As advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) become more widespread in improving driving safety, their core functions may not perform as drivers expect during real emergency situations. This presentation examines a fatal case study involving Forward Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) and Pedestrian Emergency Braking (PEB) systems that passed basic testing but failed in real-world driving scenarios. In addition to the case study, the presentation will include video tests that utilize an investigative methodology.

• Scene Mapping with Alternative Camera Methods and Pix4D (David Kostok/Steven Schmit)
  - Corporal David Kostok, Pennsylvania State Police
  - Sergeant Steven M. Schmit, Pennsylvania State Police

  This session will explore the use of alternative camera platforms, including GoPros, smartphones, and DSLR cameras, in forensic mapping. By utilizing photographs and videos from these platforms alongside photogrammetry software like Pix4D, we will create accurate point clouds for our collision reconstructions and vehicle modeling. We will also examine best practices and conduct comparisons, along with one or two case studies.

• Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Crash Scene Mapping (Robert Hainje)
  - Captain Robert Hainje, Tippecanoe County (IN) Sheriff's Office / Hainje Consulting Group, LLC

  Mapping and documenting crash scenes can be efficiently conducted using unmanned aerial aircrafts. This approach significantly minimizes the time spent at the scene and promotes faster clearance of crashes. This session will cover best practices and methods utilized by agencies in Indiana to ensure the accurate and detailed capture and processing of crash scenes.