NCJ Number
58146
Date Published
1979
Length
228 pages
Annotation
PROCEDURES FOR MANAGING ALL TYPES OF TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS FROM MINOR 'FENDER BENDERS' TO MAJOR MULTIPLE FATALITIES ARE COVERED IN THIS REFERENCE TEXT FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS CHARGED WITH TRAFFIC ACCIDENT MANAGEMENT.
Abstract
THE BOOK, A BROAD SCOPE STUDY FOR OFFICERS INVESTIGATING ACCIDENTS, COVERS THE INVESTIGATION, ACCIDENT MANAGEMENT, AND THE WRITTEN REPORT. IT STARTS BY DEFINING PERTINENT WORDS, PHRASES, AND ABBREVIATIONS AND THEN EXAMINES THE MENTAL HEALTH AND STRESS ASPECTS OF ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION, ALONG WITH THE PREDICTABLE NATURE OF MALE OFFICERS IN REACTING TO ACCIDENT SCENE PROBLEMS, VIOLENCE, AND HUMAN MISERY. ACCIDENT SCENE PRIORITIES DEALT WITH INCLUDE ARRIVING SAFELY AT THE SCENE, OBSERVING THE OVERALL SCENE AND BEGINNING THE PLANNING PROCESS, EVALUATING THE LIFESAVING NEEDS, RECOGNIZING ADDITIONAL HAZARDS, COORDINATING EMERGENCY SERVICES, ESTABLISHING A SAFE TRAFFIC PATTERN AROUND THE SCENE, CONTROLLING THE CROWD AND MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES, AND BEGINNING THE INVESTIGATION AND SUPERVISING CLEANUP OPERATIONS. RECOGNITION AND CONTROL OF ACCIDENT SCENE HAZARDS--FUEL SPILLAGE, HAZARDOUS CARGO, LIQUID PETROLEUM GAS, FIRES, POWER POLES AND LINES, UNSTABLE VEHICLES, DEBRIS, AND TWO TRUCK CABLES--AS WELL AS ACCIDENT VICTIM RESCUE AND EVACUATION BY LAND AND AIRBORNE EMERGENCY VEHICLES ARE DISCUSSED. THE REMAINING CHAPTERS DEAL WITH INVESTIGATION AND REPORTING DUTIES, SPECIFICALLY, IDENTIFYING AND INTERVIEWING WITNESSES AND PARTICIPANTS INJURED AND UNINJURED; GATHERING PHYSICAL EVIDENCE SUCH AS SOIL, FIBERS, GLASS, SKIDMARKS, TIRE IMPRESSIONS, PAINT, AND PRESERVING THIS EVIDENCE (THIS INCLUDES USE OF PHOTOGRAPHY); DETERMINING SPEED FROM SKIDMARKS; RECONSTRUCTING THE ACCIDENT; AND ORGANIZING A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT REPORT. SPECIAL ATTENTION IS GIVEN TO ASPECTS OF HIT AND RUN ACCIDENTS, ACCIDENTS INVOLVING DRUGS OR ALCOHOL, AND FATAL ACCIDENTS. APPENDIXES INCLUDE MATHEMATICAL FORMULAS FOR DETERMINING SPEED, DIRECTION, AND DISTANCE TRAVELED FROM SKIDMARKS. PHOTOGRAPHS ILLUSTRATE THE TEXT AND AN INDEX IS PROVIDED. (DAG)