| How to Obtain
Documents |
| |
| NCJ Number:
|
NCJ 065920
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| Title:
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SPEEDOMETER EXAMINATION - AN AID IN ACCIDENT INVESTIGATON
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| Journal:
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FBI LAW ENFORCEMENT BULLETIN Volume:49 Issue:3 Dated:(MARCH 1980) Pages:11-15
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| Author(s):
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D STONER ; I ZELDES
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| Corporate Author:
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US Dept of Justice
Federal Bureau of Investigation
United States
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| Sale:
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National Institute of Justice/
NCJRS paper reproduction
Box 6000, Dept F
Rockville, MD 20849
United States |
| Publisher Url*:
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http://www.fbi.gov |
| Publication Date:
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1980 |
| Pages:
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5 |
| Origin:
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United States |
| Language:
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English |
| Annotation:
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SPEEDOMETER AND TACHOMETER INVESTIGATIONS TO HELP DETERMINE VEHICLE SPEED AT IMPACT ARE DESCRIBED AND SUGGESTIONS FOR REMOVING AND HANDLING SUCH EQUIPMENT ARE GIVEN. |
| Abstract:
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BECAUSE SKID MARKS ARE NOT ALWAYS LEFT AT THE SCENE AND BECAUSE DAMAGE ESTIMATES DEPEND MORE ON GUESS THAN ON OBJECTIVE CACULATION, BOTH KINDS OF INVESTIGATIONS ARE LIMITED. VEHICLE SPEED AT IMPACT CAN SOMETIMES BE DETERMINED BY EXAMINING THE SPEEDOMETER, TACHOMETER, AND TACHOGRAPH. HOWEVER, A DIRECT SPEEDOMETER READING OF A STUCK NEEDLE AFTER AN ACCIDENT MAY NOT BE RELIABLE, PARTICULARLY IF THE READING IS AT OR NEAR ZERO. IN SEVERE HEAD-ON OR FIXED-OBJECT COLLISIONS, THE SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE MAY MAKE A VISIBLE STAMP OR MARK ON THE DIAL. AT OTHER TIMES, THE DRIVER'S BODY OR OTHER OBJECTS MAY COME IN CONTACT WITH THE SPEEDOMETER DURING COLLISION, BENDING THE NEEDLE AND CAUSING IT TO PUSH AGAINST THE DIAL. IF THE NEEDLE STICKS AND THE DAMAGE IS RELATIVELY STRAIGHT FROM FRONT TO REAR, THE VEHICLE IMPACT SPEED MAY BE DETERMINED, AND SUBSTANTIATED BY DAMAGE AND OTHER EVIDENCE. OTHER SPEED DETERMINATORS INCLUDE PAINT SMEARS ON THE DIAL LEFT BY THE NEEDLE AT THE TIME OF IMPACT AND TACHOGRPAH AND TACHOMETER FINDINGS. SPEEDOMETERS SHOULD BE PHOTOGRAPHED BEFORE REMOVAL, HANDLED GENTLY, AND REMOVED WITH THE COMPLETE INSTRUMENT PANEL, IF POSSIBLE. AN EXAMINATION REQUEST SHOULD ACCOMPANY THE SPEEDOMETER TO THE LAB, ALONG WITH A BRIEF ACCOUNT OF THE ACCIDENT, ANY SPEED CALCULATIONS, AND OTHER PERTINENT DATA. THE LABORATORY EXAMINATION CONSISTS OF OBSERVATION, MICROSCOPIAL ANALYSIS, AND PHOTOMICROGRAPHY UNDER NORMAL LIGHTING CONDITIONS AND ULTRAVIOLET (UV) LIGHT. IN SOME CASES, IT IS MORE DIFFICULT TO TAKE A PHOTOGRAPH OF VERY SMALL PARTICLES UNDER UV LIGHT THAN IT IS TO OBSERVE THEM. PHOTOGRAPHS ARE INCLUDED. (AOP) |
| Index Term(s):
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Accident investigation ; Photography ; Crime laboratory equipment ; Shoe prints and tire tracks ; Traffic accidents |
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To cite this abstract, use the following link:
http://www.ncjrs.gov/App/Publications/abstract.aspx?ID=65920
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* A link to the full-text document is provided whenever possible. For documents
not available online, a link to the publisher's web site is provided.
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