Who accelerated, the car or the driver? Historically, certain vehicles have suffered with malfunctions and defects which have resulted in unintended acceleration, although there are also many instances where it is likely the driver pressed the wrong pedal, also referred to as pedal confusion. This raises the question, did the car accelerate on…
Seatbelt determination EDR data can assist with cases where it is important to determine if a seatbelt was being worn at the time of a collision. Historically, this type of investigation involves a physical examination of the seatbelt to identify the presence of the tell-tale signs of seatbelt wear, or to help a biomechanics investigation…
by Victoria Eyers What is an Event Data Recorder (EDR)? An EDR is a function of a vehicle’s Airbag Control Module (ACM), which is otherwise known as the Restraint Control Module (RCM). The ACM constantly receives data from various sensors around the car. This allows the module to decide whether the vehicle is experiencing an…
Dr Richard Lambourn considers the scenario in which a person is stuck under a car: would the driver know? Happily this is a rare event, but when it does occur, either accidentally or as a result of a deliberate assault, it is appropriate to ask, what awareness would a driver have that there was someone…
Victoria Eyers describes an investigation into a road traffic collision involving horses. In 2015, on the A3 in Surrey, a multi-stage, multi-vehicle collision occurred involving two escaped horses and resulting in fatal injuries to both animals. The passenger of a minicab involved in the collision also received catastrophic injuries. TRL’s expert Victoria Eyers was instructed…
Beyond the glitz of Formula One, many thousands of motorsports enthusiasts participate in events around the country every year in a wide variety of disciplines; be it on two, three or four wheels. Sadly the well-known phrase “Motor Racing can be Dangerous” becomes a reality for some participants, officials, and spectators. It is important that…
Recent years have seen an enormous proliferation in the use of electric scooters (e-scooters) on UK roads. Whilst in some geographic areas these have been monitored and controlled as part of designated trials, there has also been widespread unregulated use. With this increase, both as part of public hire schemes and of privately owned devices,…
An unexpected knock on the door by an unfamiliar face wearing a police uniform is the unfortunate reality many people face when someone they know has been the victim of a road crash. Having been through the initial shock, many people are often thrust into a process that involves the police, the courts, and the…
Imagine you are driving on a quiet single carriageway road. You are in a relaxed frame of mind; your speed is moderate. You then see a car coming towards you on your side of the road: it does not seem to be overtaking any other traffic, it is simply driving, apparently quite steadily, on the wrong side. What do you do?
Craig Arnold discusses the potential for audio analysis in collision investigation. Video footage is becoming increasingly prevalent in investigations and often video analysis is carried out to determine a whole range of matters, including speed. Audio recordings can also help draw important conclusions when investigating a collision, which would otherwise be lost, however the importance of the audio stream can often be overlooked.
As the 25th anniversary approaches of the fatal collision involving Diana, Princess of Wales and Dodi Al Fayed, our expert Iwan Parry reflects on TRL’s role in the investigation and the pioneering approach which not only provided much needed answers but also advanced collision investigation methodologies as a whole.
Our expert Mark Hill talks through some of the factors that make us human, how these influence our driving behaviour and what an expert investigator should consider as part of their reconstructions.
Every year, a large number of vulnerable road users (VRU’s) are killed in road traffic collisions, with a vast number seriously injured. In 2020, VRU’s accounted for 53% of all fatalities on UK roads, with pedestrians making up the largest proportion of this number at 24%. In pedestrian collisions, the most serious head injuries are often caused by the hard structures under the bonnet panel, the lower edge of the windscreen, and the A-pillars. Vehicle manufacturers have developed various technologies to attempt to avoid collisions with VRU’s such as AEB pedestrian detection systems, which automatically apply emergency braking when they detect the presence of a pedestrian ahead of the vehicle.
Video analysis is becoming an ever more important part of many investigations and there are a variety of different analysis methods and techniques that can be used. In this article we outline some of the potential ways to calculate distances travelled, as well as how we decide which analysis method to use, and why the time taken to analyse footage can seem to vary widely.
We were originally planning for this to be a 2-part series but there is so much to write about that we have extended it to 3! In this article, we look at TRL’s research into biomechanics over the years and how we’ve contributed to its development.
Read Part 1 of our History of Biomechanics series by Dr Ana Barbir, outlining the developments in this science all the way back from the Ancient Greeks through to the first computer simulations in the 1960s & 70s. Part 2 will follow in the new year to bring us up to the present day and will include more details of TRL’s input to this discipline over the years.
Most drivers are aware of the need to keep their vehicle in a roadworthy condition, renew insurance, keep up with vehicle maintenance and so on, but many overlook the importance of securing a load attached to the vehicle. In England each year, there are over 22,000 road related incidents involving load security on our motorways alone, with many more going unreported. Read our article on the common misconceptions around this topic here.
With over 20,000 vehicle-related fires every year across the UK, fire investigation experts are routinely instructed to determine their cause, through the careful analysis and scrutiny of fire-damaged vehicles. Read more on how our experts analyse the available evidence to investigate vehicle fires here.
Back in March 2021 we wrote about the technical work we did for a case in which there was a fatal incident at a velodrome. The solicitors acting for the claimant have also now written up their own account of the same case here. It’s fascinating to read the two side by side. Our technical…
Aquaplaning is a rare phenomenon in which a complete layer of water builds up between the road surface and one or more of a vehicle’s tyres, causing them to lose direct contact with the road.
A rotating wheel stores a large amount of energy, both rotational and linear, and can cause a huge amount of damage and injury if it separates from a vehicle.
As in-vehicle telematics grows in influence, now is the time to learn how to make the most from the data.
In sending new enquiries to TRL, we understand that you might not always have all the information at an early stage. However, there are steps you can take to help us to assign the most appropriate expert, ensure you receive the most accurate estimate for the work required, and ultimately provide you with the best investigation.
Visibility is one of the most important factors for drivers, particularly for those of large vehicles such as HGVs and vans, which have the highest rate of other road user deaths per mile travelled
For any given vehicle travelling on a curve, there is a sideways acceleration threshold above which it is prone to roll over. The sideways acceleration it experiences is determined by its speed and the curvature and the camber or crossfall of the curve…
This case study relates to a fatal incident which took place at an indoor velodrome, where TRL’s investigation covered multiple technical areas including grip testing, environmental testing for dirt and debris, CCTV analysis and accident reconstruction.
Did you know that the Insurance Fraud Bureau estimates that ‘Crash for Cash’ collisions cost the UK around £340 million per year?
eCall is a vehicle system which automatically alerts emergency services in the event of a serious road collision.
TRL’s Experts are highly trained and have many years’ experience of vehicle assessment and inspection, ranging from bicycles to tractors and large goods vehicles.
Pedal error – i.e. pressing the wrong pedal – is a phenomenon that occurs more regularly than many people would expect.
Frequently asked questions and answers on Event Data Recorders; what they are, when they record, and their uses for accident reconstruction
Take a look at our dos and don’ts for obtaining and sharing video footage
Consultants from TRL’s Expert Witness and Investigations Group have been supporting the work of Global Fleet Champions in promoting fleet safety Global Fleet Champions is a not-for-profit, global partnership campaign led by Brake, the road safety charity. Its aim is to prevent crashes and reduce pollution caused by vehicles used for work purposes, which aligns…
Last week TRL’s Mike Pittman and Dean Beaumont were invited to present on the future of transport at the 11th Annual CoPart Advisory Board at the Four Seasons hotel in Hampshire. Mike took to the stage first, updating the audience on TRL projects such as: MOVE_UK, focused on advancing efficient data collection for Automated…
UK and EU laws governing the accessibility of vehicle Event Data Recorder (EDR) evidence must be changed to improve safety, reduce costs, speed up legal proceedings and save lives.
Our Expert Witness team attended the Institute of Traffic Accident Investigators (ITAI) annual Crash Test and Research Day last month at the Bruntingthorpe Proving Ground in Leicestershire.
FROM THE ARCHIVES The following article appeared in a TRL Newsletter in June 1999, but remains just as topical today with more and more people using fleet vehicles. Managing risk with “Black Box” technology TRL’s accident prevention and risk management work is not just limited to providing expert safety advice to those in the…
Calling on all motorcycle users and passengers to help inform this vital research and help shape the future of motorcycle safety today, please complete TRL’s 10-minute survey
Rapid response finds evidence and gives client early direction in serious collision case
The Bus Safety Standard is a program of work for Transport for London (TfL) focused on vehicle safety measures.
Our assessments can remove doubt from driver accounts of vision in road accidents
Event Data Recorder (EDR) data from VW Group European vehicles can now be accessed and analysed by our experts
A medical episode resulted in a high profile traffic accident and our independent collision investigators were requested to consider several aspects of the case.
Exploring the future of modelling, diagnosing and predicting traumatic brain injury in road traffic collisions.
A typical vehicle has over 75 computer systems collecting and storing data vital to the investigation of criminal activity, insurance fraud and road traffic collisions.
Despite radical changes in vehicle safety over the last century, the industry will need to continue to adapt its safety standards in order to keep up with advances in technology.
A medical episode resulted in a road collision of two vehicles. Our independent collision investigators demonstrate how this can be corroborated and proven in court.
A case study of an LGV in collision with a cyclists in a cycle lane and how our Collision Investigation team provided information which aided the court hearing.
The number of pedestrians and cyclists killed or seriously injured in collisions with Large Goods Vehicles is disproportionate to those involving other types of vehicles.
With more than a quarter of all road traffic collisions involving people driving for work, it’s important for companies to be aware of the accident investigation process and preventions measures.
We share a recent case study of a car in collision with a cyclist in a busy urban area and how our Expert Witness team provided useful information which aided the court hearing.
We take personal data very seriously at TRL and are proud to be amongst the companies who crossed the finish line for GDPR last Friday.
Our very own Dr Richard Lambourn has been a long supporter of SAE for decades. Having recently attended the World Congress Experience, he shares his learnings on this insightful conference.
The General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) is the first major piece of data privacy legislation in the EU for 20 years. TRL will be compliant before the deadline of 25th May 2018.
TRL conducted a series of motorcycle helmet roll-off tests several years ago to determine which factors are likely to be causative of helmet loss through roll-off in a collision. Further research is being undertaken to provide a better form of advice to prospective helmet users to reduce the potential for helmet roll-off.
CCTV systems can provide invaluable evidence in relation to the speed, movement and reactions of the parties involved in a collision or incident and our experts are highly experienced in analysing footage from a variety of different sources. This Workshop was an opportunity to share experiences with colleagues in the industry and to learn about new developments in this field.