Citation

Shelton T. Accid. Reconstr. J. 1995; 7(1): 37-40.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1995, Accident Reconstruction Journal)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The process used by the California Highway Patrol (CHP) to estimate speed from critical speed scuffmarks (also known as centrifugal skidmarks, yawmarks or scuffmarks) is similar to that published in a variety of well known and respected accident reconstruction texts and publication. Over the past 15 years, the CHP has conducted a number of controlled tests to validate the process used to estimate speed from critical speed scuffmarks. These controlled tests range from tests conducted by the Department's Multidisciplinary Accident Investigation Team (MAIT) program to exercises and tests conducted by the CHP Academy as part of its In-Service Accident Investigation Training (IAIT) program. Since 1979, the CHP Academy has conducted approximately 94 controlled tests expressly for the purpose of validating or demonstrating the speed from critical speed scuffmarks methodology. This article summarizes those 94 controlled tests.