February 2015                                                                                                                                               Issue 5
CTSRC Crash News Update
My name is Chuck Grasso and I am a retired Police Sergeant now working for the University of Connecticut Transportation Safety Research Center as a Crash Data Liaison.  I will be bringing you a newsletter on both the progress of the new MMUCC Accident Report, as well as crash investigation news.
  • Indicates if the officer suspects that a driver was distracted while driving based on verbal or physical evidence and not on speculation alone.Distractions which may have influenced the driver's performance.
  • The distractions can be inside the motor vehicle (internal) or outside the motor vehicle (external).It is Important to identify specific driver behavior during a crash and understand and mitigate the effects of distracting activities.
  • Not Distracted - This attribute indicates that the driver was "attentive" to the driving task in the officer's assessment . 
  • Manually Operating an Electronic Communication Device (texting, etc.) - The driver was in the act of manually manipulating an electronic communication device (cell phone, smart phone, hand-held radio, etc.).
  • Talking on Hands-Free Electronic Device - The driver was conversing using a hands-free electronic device such as a headset/earpiece or vehicle-integrated system.
  • Talking on Hand-Held Electronic Device - The driver was conversing on a hand-held electronic device such as a cell phone.
  • Other Activity, Electronic Device - The driver was in the act of using an electronic device for some purpose other than communicating, such as operating a navigation device, playing a game, or watching a video.
  • Passenger - A passenger was the source of distraction affecting the driver.
  • Other Inside the Vehicle (eating, hygiene, etc.) - Other distractions inside the vehicle affecting the driver. This may include actions taken by the driver such as eating, drinking, smoking, shaving etc., or distractions within the vehicle originating from neither the driver nor passengers, such as a pet or flying insect.
VehicleTraffic Control Devices

 

What is a Traffic Control Device?

 

A Traffic Control Device is anything that indicates traffic flow or control.  This includes traffic signals, signs and road markings

 

Is the"Traffic Control Device" functional?

  • Indicate if the traffic control device is functional or missing. If there is not a traffic control device required at the scene of the crash enter Not Applicable.
  • Is the Traffic Control Device Inoperative, Missing, or Obscured - This would include traffic control devices disabled or not functioning properly, lane markings faded or missing, signs that are down or covered by foliage, etc.
Sequence Types of Intersections

 

An Intersection type should be selected if Intersection or Intersection Related were selected in Crash Specific Location.

  • Not an Intersection - Identifies that this crash was not intersection or intersection-related.  
  • Four-Way Intersection - Where two roadways cross or connect.
  • T-Intersection - An intersection where two roadways connect in a perpendicular manner and one roadway does not continue across the other roadway. The roadways form a "T."
  • Y-Intersection - An intersection where three roadways connect and none of the roadways continue across the other roadways. The roadways form a "Y."
  • L-Intersection - This is a two-armed intersection in which one road intersects with another road but neither road extends beyond the other road.
  • Traffic Circle - An intersection of roads where motor vehicles must travel around a circle to continue on the same road or leave on any intersecting road. NOTE: Traffic circles are not the same as roundabouts. A traffic circle may not have yield control on all legs. Signals maybe used in a traffic circle, but not in a roundabout. Traffic in the circle may stop due to signals or inconsistent yield rules.
  • Roundabout - Circular traffic patterns in which yield control is used on all entries, circulating vehicles have the right-of-way and should never stop, pedestrian access is allowed only across the legs of the roundabout behind the yield line and circulation is counter-clockwise and passes to the right of the central island.
  • Five-Point, or More - Refers to an intersection where more than two roadways cross or connect. 
     
Contact Us
If you have any questions regarding  the new MMUCC PR-1 or would like to submit an unusual collision scenario please contact:

Chuck Grasso
860-486-1587 (Work)
860-753-1240 (Cell)
Quick Links
CTSRC Website
Training Spotlight

 

This week we will include a photograph from a training class involving a vehicle/bicycle collision. 

 

 In the below photograph  you will see a 185 lb. male crash dummy on a bicycle being struck by a 2001 Ford Crown Victoria traveling at a speed of approximately 30 mph.  This photograph  illustrates the forces generated on a human being while being struck by a 4,000 lb. vehicle. 

 

This photograph is an example of the types of collision training and demonstrations that the Connecticut Transportation Safety Research Center will be sponsoring and  bringing to Connecticut Law Enforcement in the near future.  

 

  

Collision Spotlight

 

Officers are dispatched to a reported car verses multiple pedestrian collision.  The first arriving officer reports that several pedestrians had been struck and the vehicle continued traveling on the roadway for approximately 200 yards further before crossing over the oncoming lane and coming to final rest against a tree off the opposite side of the roadway.  The vehicle is heavily damaged from the impact with the tree and the operator was seriously injured and had to be extricated from the vehicle.   

 

  The pedestrians that were struck included a group of persons off the right side of the roadway raising money for charity.  All were injured but none seriously.

 

Based on the new MMUCC 

PR-1 guidelines what is the

Sequence of Events

for this collision? 

 

1) Vehicle ran off right side of roadway.

 

2)  Vehicle struck pedestrians. 

 

3)   Vehicle ran off Left side of roadway.

 

4)  Vehicle struck tree

 

What was the

Most Harmful Event?

 

The vehicle striking the tree.  

 

The collision with the tree caused both the most serious injury to anyone involved as well as totaling the vehicle. 

 

Thank You to a Regional Reconstruction Team for relaying this very unusual collision.