Accident Investigation Flashcards
7 cards from real CHP practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Accident Investigation flashcards as text
When investigating a collision involving a suspected DUI driver, when should field sobriety tests (FSTs) be administered?
Answer: After the scene is secure and immediate medical needs are addressed
FSTs should be conducted after scene safety is established and medical emergencies are handled, as injured subjects may appear impaired due to injury rather than intoxication.
What does steering wheel deformation and airbag deployment indicate to an accident investigator?
Answer: The direction and approximate severity of impact forces experienced by the driver
Airbag deployment thresholds and steering wheel deformation patterns indicate the direction and approximate force of impact sustained by the driver's compartment.
In accident reconstruction, what does 'Delta-V' refer to?
Answer: The change in velocity a vehicle experiences during a collision
Delta-V (ΔV) is the change in velocity experienced by a vehicle during impact and is a key measure of collision severity used in reconstruction analysis.
What physical evidence suggests a tire blowout may have caused a crash, as opposed to driver error?
Answer: Scattered tire tread fragments and an asymmetric yaw mark originating before the crash
Tire tread separation and a vehicle beginning to yaw before any apparent driver input suggests a sudden blowout caused sudden loss of vehicle control.
In pedestrian collision investigation, what is the significance of measuring the pedestrian's 'throw distance'?
Answer: To estimate the vehicle's speed at the moment of impact using projectile motion formulas
Pedestrian throw distance can be used with physics formulas to calculate the vehicle's speed at impact when other physical evidence is limited.
Seatbelt webbing evidence at a collision scene is significant because it can:
Answer: Indicate if a seatbelt was worn and the forces experienced by the occupant during impact
Seatbelt webbing stretch, locking patterns, and bruising on the occupant verify seatbelt use and indicate the direction and magnitude of crash forces.
When documenting vehicle damage, which measurement is most useful for estimating crush depth to calculate impact speed?
Answer: Residual crush depth measured perpendicular to the damaged surface
Residual crush depth, measured perpendicular to the pre-impact vehicle surface, is used in energy-based speed calculations during accident reconstruction.