Abstract
One of the main points to be addressed when analysing vehicle-pedestrian collisions is the vehicle impact speed. If the traffic accident is not recorded on camera, and there are no skid marks nor tachograph in the vehicle, the parameter is determined on the basis of empirical models. All empirical models for ascertaining vehicle speed are based on the pedestrian throw distance, which is not always known because of an unidentified vehicle-pedestrian collision point or the final rest position of the pedestrian after collision. This paper shows a description of a vehicle damage recorded in an ordinal scale and determines the pedestrian throw distance prediction model from the vehicle damage established in such a way. If the accident scene is documented by photographs, the damage can be classified, and by applying a validated model, the pedestrian throw distance envisaged. Then, by applying an empirical model, one can determine the speed of the vehicle at the time of collision with a pedestrian. Two databases were formed during the research. The first is based on real-life traffic accidents (expert witnessing of the professors from the Faculty of Technical Sciences). The second is based on traffic accident simulations as part of PC Crash software package.
Highlights
Vehicle-pedestrian collision inevitably leaves marks on both, the pedestrian’s body, in the form of injuries, and on the vehicles, in the form of cosmetic or structural damage
This paper shows a description of a vehicle damage recorded in an ordinal scale and determines the pedestrian throw distance prediction model from the vehicle damage established in such a way
The vehicle speed can be determined from the skid marks, by analysing recorded videos or by analysing the tachograph cards taken from the vehicle
Summary
Vehicle-pedestrian collision inevitably leaves marks on both, the pedestrian’s body, in the form of injuries, and on the vehicles, in the form of cosmetic or structural damage. The analysis of both marks is of paramount importance in determining the circumstances under which the accident occurred. The vehicle speed at the point of collision with a pedestrian is one of the parameters which need to be established during the reconstruction of events and in determining the circumstances of the accident. Searle [3], Stcherbatcheff [4] and Wood and Simms [5, 6] established models for calculation of forward vehicle speed that take into account only one independent parameter – pedestrian throw distance.
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