The Examination of Vehicles for Mechanical Faults

Abstract

Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen, The examination of a motor vehicle or vehicles that have been involved in a fatal road accident, is now a most essential part of the whole enquiry, without which no investigation of such an occurrence would be complete. Where human lives, and indeed human liberties are concerned, it is only right and proper that all available evidence is obtained so as to ensure that justice is done, and the truth of the matter is revealed beyond all reasonable doubt. Experience has shown that many parts have to be played in the investigation of a fatal road accident. Amongst them are those of the Scientist, with his laboratory facilities a t hand to identify, and analyse materials such as glass, paint, clothing, blood and tissue, the Medical man to examine for illness, disease, sobriety and injury, the Interrogator to sift the spoken word, and obtain statements, and the Engineer to examine the vehicles, and the scene, to find any mechanical faults. Unfortunately, humanity being what it is, the truth about an occurrence is not always readily forthcoming, and often the investigator of a road accident has to cope with many garbled accounts of such things as time, speeds, position of vehicles on the road and the like. In addition fantastic excuses have often been given by drivers of vehicles involved in fatal road accidents, such as burst tyres, faulty brakes, faulty steering, bad road conditions, weather conditions and so forth, which of course add to the problenls of the investigator. Fortunately, the physical laws that govern movement, are constant, and cannot be denied, and therefore render it comparatively easy for most of these excuses, which are often thought up on the spur of the moment, to be rebutted. When an accident has not been witnessed, it is unwise to jump to hasty conclusions about its cause. I t is safer to form no definite opinion until all the available evidence has been examined. In my opinion, therefore, it is most important to visit the scene of a fatal road accident, as soon as possible, before anything has been moved or disturbed. I t is first of paramount importance to enlist the aid of an expert photographer to obtain a complete photographic record of the scene, showing the positions of the vehicles, marks on the road, damage to the vehicles, and the weather conditions prevailing a t the time. This is most valuable, especially afterwards a t any subsequent Court or Enquiry, and in my experience has often been the key to the solution of the cause of the occurrence. Traffic conditions to-day make it imperative to get the road cleared as soon as possible, and, therefore, vehicles are usually taken away to a garage where they can be examined under proper workshop conditions with the utmost care, to establish whether or not the accident was caused through any mechanical failure, either from breakage or lack of maintenance. This examination must be done in an orderly manner commencing with a full and complete description of the vehicle, type, weight, registered numbers, engine numbers, etc. The steering and braking mechanism, tyres, lighting equipment, gearbox, road springs, exhaust systems and chassis frames must then be carefully examined for the following reasons :-