FLHSMV Traffic Crash Investigation 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What does 'momentum' refer to in crash reconstruction physics?
- The distance a vehicle travels after braking
- The product of a vehicle's mass and velocity (Correct answer)
- The force applied to brakes
- The angle of vehicle departure
Correct answer: The product of a vehicle's mass and velocity
Momentum is the product of a vehicle's mass multiplied by its velocity, and conservation of momentum helps investigators reconstruct crash speeds.
Question 2: Which document is used in Florida to officially record the details of a traffic crash investigated by law enforcement?
- FL-400 Incident Log
- Long Form Traffic Crash Report (HSMV 90006) (Correct answer)
- Driver Exchange of Information Form
- Witness Affidavit FR-10
Correct answer: Long Form Traffic Crash Report (HSMV 90006)
Law enforcement officers in Florida use the Long Form Traffic Crash Report (HSMV 90006) to officially document crash details.
Question 3: When investigating a crash, what does 'contributory factor' mean?
- A factor that caused the crash by itself
- A condition or action that contributed to the crash occurring (Correct answer)
- The sole fault of one driver
- The road condition after the crash
Correct answer: A condition or action that contributed to the crash occurring
A contributory factor is any condition or action that played a role in causing or worsening a crash, even if it was not the sole cause.
Question 4: What is the significance of the 'rest position' of a vehicle in crash investigation?
- It shows the vehicle's starting position before the crash
- It indicates the vehicle's final location after all movement ceased (Correct answer)
- It identifies the fault of one driver
- It determines road friction coefficient
Correct answer: It indicates the vehicle's final location after all movement ceased
The rest position is where the vehicle came to a complete stop after the crash, and it helps establish movement paths and energy dispersal.
Question 5: In a T-bone collision, which vehicle structure typically absorbs the brunt of the crash energy on the struck vehicle?
- Front bumper
- Rear axle
- Side door panels (Correct answer)
- Trunk lid
Correct answer: Side door panels
In a T-bone (side-impact) collision, the side door panels and pillars of the struck vehicle absorb the crash energy, providing less protection than front or rear structures.
Question 6: What is 'perception-reaction time' in crash investigation analysis?
- The time from when a driver sees a hazard until the vehicle stops
- The time from perceiving a danger to beginning to respond to it (Correct answer)
- The delay between a crash and the driver notifying police
- The time to complete a written crash report
Correct answer: The time from perceiving a danger to beginning to respond to it
Perception-reaction time is the interval from when a driver perceives a hazard to when they physically begin to respond, typically about 1.5 seconds.
Question 7: Which type of crash is most associated with wrong-way driving on Florida highways?
- Rear-end collision
- Sideswipe collision
- Head-on collision (Correct answer)
- Rollover crash
Correct answer: Head-on collision
Wrong-way driving typically results in head-on collisions because the driver traveling in the wrong direction faces oncoming traffic directly.
FLHSMV Traffic Crash Investigation 3
What does 'momentum' refer to in crash reconstruction physics?