Practical Application of Vehicle Speed Determination from Crush Measurements

The use of vehicle damage measurements has been proven to be an effective technique in the determination of impact energy and pre-collision speeds. However, as with any analytical technique, the quality of the speed estimate is highly dependent on the accuracy of the measurements. This relationship suggests a need to employ intricate and exacting measurement schemes to obtain useable data. This approach is often difficult to implement in a routine accident investigation where a tape measure may be the only available measuring device. In the current study, vehicle damage resulting from collisions with a known speed is measured with techniques of increasing sophistication and the results are compared. These measurements are then used in conjunction with the CRASH III computer program to estimate the pre-impact vehicle speeds. The analysis technique used by CRASH III is also reviewed to provide a summary understanding of how the crush measurements are used in the program.