The Institute of Traffic Accident Investigators Institute of Traffic Accident Investigators Good Practice Guidance

The Institute of Traffic Accident Investigators Institute Aims Founded in 1988 Promote the free and open exchange of knowledge and through this enhance expertise. Promote a professional approach by encouraging honesty and integrity among investigators.

The Institute of Traffic Accident Investigators Membership – worldwide Police Officers Private practitioners Engineers Researchers Scientists

The Institute of Traffic Accident Investigators Membership Affiliate – open to anyone with an interest Associate – unrelated qualifications or experience Full Member – qualifications in Ai

The Institute of Traffic Accident Investigators Membership There is no ‘requirement’ to be a member of any organisation to practice Accident Investigation

The Institute of Traffic Accident Investigators Benefits Conference - every other year Journal - 3 times year Newsletter - 6 times year Lectures & field days

The Institute of Traffic Accident Investigators Accident Investigation Training Police collision investigators are trained to City & Guilds Others - UCPD De Montfort University Those from other specialisation areas will have ‘higher’ academic qualifications

The Institute of Traffic Accident Investigators The Investigation Collision Occurs Investigation commences Information is gathered

The Institute of Traffic Accident Investigators The Investigation Mechanics of how an investigation is conducted is largely dependant upon SIO (collision investigator & vehicle examiner) Road Death Investigation Manual (2007) & ACPO Codes of Practice (2010 re-write) (not mandatory)

The Institute of Traffic Accident Investigators The Collision Investigator Role Capture all available evidence Identify extent of scene

The Institute of Traffic Accident Investigators The Collision Investigator Role Interpret scene evidence Carry out any ‘testing’ Examine Vehicles Driver related ‘issues’

The Institute of Traffic Accident Investigators The Collision Investigator Role Review the evidence Compile comprehensive report

The Institute of Traffic Accident Investigators

The Investigation How can we be confident our collision investigator is applying the most appropriate methods and research to support the investigation?

The Institute of Traffic Accident Investigators Checking & Verification Used established methods & principles Been impartial Conclusions well founded overall approach thorough Explored other avenues No ambiguous statements / phrasing Made available all the references they used Stayed within their limits (small cog) Are their approximations reasonable Alerted other agencies Audit trailed their work

The Institute of Traffic Accident Investigators Miscarriage of Justice No accreditation scheme can prevent a thoroughly competent expert getting it wrong on the day

The Institute of Traffic Accident Investigators Individual ‘registered’ (not mandatory) Peer review of case files 4 years of registration then revalidation CPD maintained & current cases

The Institute of Traffic Accident Investigators Codes of Practice and Conduct for Forensic Science Providers and Practitioners in the Criminal Justice System Applies to public, private practitioners whatever scope of science work prosecution or defence “influence conduct”

The Institute of Traffic Accident Investigators Legal requirements Duty to the Court Retain Record and Reveal

The Institute of Traffic Accident Investigators Good Practice Central point for anyone to look-up the most up to date research and practices

The Institute of Traffic Accident Investigators Exhibits ‘The art and science of packaging’ protect evidence minimise handling labelling for continuity proper use of packaging

The Institute of Traffic Accident Investigators Pedestrian speeds How long did it take the pedestrian to reach the collision point? Research on Road Traffic 1965 or Eubanks 1998 or Tony Foster 2002 ?

The Institute of Traffic Accident Investigators Mobile Phones Everyone thinks they know about phones! Who should examine it? How is it best examined? The first examination may be the only opportunity to collect evidence ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Competent to do so? Methods are fit for purpose? No change to data? Record or audit all of processes?

The Institute of Traffic Accident Investigators Visibility of pedestrian / cyclists Has the conspicuity of pedestrian and/or the cyclist been considered?

The Institute of Traffic Accident Investigators Speed Assessments Speed lost while skidding? Critical speed cornering? Equations of motion Establish coefficient of friction between tyres and road surface 1. Skid tests 2. Range of values

The Institute of Traffic Accident Investigators Scene Notes Are notes taken at a scene sufficiently comprehensive

The Institute of Traffic Accident Investigators Reporting Defects

The Institute of Traffic Accident Investigators Owner Review Date Few Pages

The Institute of Traffic Accident Investigators Questions