A Look Back at 50 Years of Safety Innovations 50, Sep 2010.pdfLiaison to ACTAR - Jincy Pace [email protected] Newsletter - Tim Neumann [email protected] materials from the three most

C A L I F O R N I A A S S O C I A T I O N O F A C C I D E N T R E C O N S T R U C T I O N S P E C I A L I S T S

In the Caars Special 50th issue...The Board Beat Did You Know? Training Review Election InfoPage 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 6

A Look Back... 50 Years of Innovations ACTAR Test Info MinutesPage 9 Page 10 Page 14 Page 15

Editor’s Pick Absentee Ballot What Do You Think? Reader Poll

Page 17 Page 19 Page 20 Page 22

A Look Back at

50 Years of

Safety

Innovations

PAGE 1! SEPTEMBER 2010 — NEWSLETTER #50


Quarterly Training: The 3rd quarter training, Collision Fraud Investigation, was presented by Sergeant Chris Mendez

and Detective Steve Hardy of the California Department of Insurance. Both are part of a newly formed Urban Auto Taskforce (UATF), and are recognized experts in the investigation of staged collision cases. I thought they both did

a fantastic job. It was very informative and well received by the attendees.

� Anaheim PD hosted the Southern California session on Wednesday, August 11, and we had 43 attendees,13 of which were ACTAR accredited. Sacramento PD hosted the Northern California session on Thursday, August 19,

and we had 40 attendees, 12 of which were ACTAR accredited. At both locations, we had some folks renew their memberships and had six new members join in So Cal. We owe a special thanks to Officer Rick Alexander from

Anaheim PD and Doug Tracy from Sacramento PD for allowing CAARS to utilize their facilities. For more information on the training, see the training review on page 4.

� The handout materials from all three quarterly training sessions this year are now available to download in the

Members’ Only area of the CAARS website. Our online storage space may become limited, so we will likely only keep

Kent E. Boots Chris Kauderer Jahna Beard David Heinbaugh Sean Shimada David Cameron John Crews

Chair Vice-Chair Director Director Director Director Director

The Board BeatCourtesy of Kent E. Boots

CAARS CONTACTS

Chairperson - Kent E. Boots

[email protected]

Vice Chair - Chris Kauderer

[email protected]

Treasurer - Monica Franksen

[email protected]

Membership - Kevin Cassidy

[email protected]

Liaison to ACTAR - Jincy Pace

[email protected]

Newsletter - Tim Neumann

[email protected]

materials from the three most recent quarterly training sessions available at a time.

I have made tentative arrangements with speakers for all three quarterly training sessions for 2011. The topics are railroad collision investigation, vehicle inspections

and procedures, and case studies with somewhat of a “hands-on” approach ̶ not necessarily in that order. The dates and locations will be sent out via mass e-mail and

posted on the CAARS website events calendar as soon as the information becomes available. Please make sure your online CAARS directory listing has your current

e-mail address. This will ensure you receive CAARS e-mails.

� If you have any ideas for topics or speakers or you would like to present a topic, please don’t hesitate to contact me via e-mail at [email protected].

� 2010 Conference: By the time you are reading this, the conference fee for

members will have increased to $425 per person (as of Sept. 11) and will

Continued on Page 3


mailto:[email protected]















(Continued from Page 2)

remain this price through the conference. The hotel may or may not still have rooms at the block rate of $139 per night. If the hotel tells you there are no rooms available at that price, please contact me directly prior to making a reservation. This past week, we had three cancellations due to agency budget issues. As I sit here and write this, we only have 52 people registered for the conference. Four of those are Board Members, and two are speakers. So now we are down to 46 registered attendees for the conference. This is a little less than half of the total number of attendees we had last year.

Some of you may recall there was a surplus from last year’s conference. There definitely will not be a surplus this year. In fact, the organization will undoubtedly lose money as a result of the conference expenses. How much, is yet to be determined. Do not worry, the organization will survive. However, as Chris points out in his candidate statement (page 6), the current state of the economy dictates some necessary changes in regards to how CAARS will conduct business in the future.

The Future: As always, if there is ever anything that I or any of the other board members can do to improve your organization, please do not hesitate to let us know. That’s all for now.

Kent

The Board BeatCourtesy of Kent E. Boots

The 2009 Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, or MUTCD, is now available. On December 16,

2009, a final rule adopting the 2009 Edition of the MUTCD was published in the Federal Register.

States must adopt the 2009 National MUTCD as their legal State standard for traffic control devices

within two years. The MUTCD defines the standards used by road managers nationwide to install

and maintain traffic control devices on all public streets, highways, bikeways, and private roads open to

public traffic. The MUTCD is published by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) under 23 Code of Federal

Regulations (CFR), Part 655, Subpart F.

The official version of the 2009 MUTCD is the PDF version. It can be downloaded as one PDF document or individual

chapters from http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/pdfs/2009/pdf_index.htm. There are many changes from the 2003 MUTCD

which you should familiarize yourself with. Certain signs currently in use are now prohibited and

there are new sign requirements. Certain pavement markings currently in use are now

prohibited and there are new pavement marking requirements.

The MUTCD web page has a training section (http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/ser-Training.htm),

where there are numerous PowerPoint presentations available highlighting the changes in the

2009 MUTCD.

Did you know?


http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/pdfs/2009/pdf_index.htm

http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/pdfs/2009/pdf_index.htm

http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/ser-Training.htm

http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/ser-Training.htm


Training Review - Third QuarterCourtesy of Doug English, San Diego Police Department

presentation and definitely noticed there were more guests in attendance than normal. Along with the regular

attendees, some of the guests included NICB representatives and LA Metro Transit Authority investigators. The training was approved for ACTAR CEUs as well as being POST approved.

Sergeant Mario Asturias and Detective Steve Hardy from the California Department of Insurance were the presenters.

Both have a considerable amount of expertise in staged traffic collision insurance fraud. On an annual basis, they estimate, fraudulent insurance claims cost consumers three times what the war in Iraq does ̶ in the neighborhood of

100 billion dollars a year. Through some of their investigations, they have traced traffic collision insurance fraud rings to terrorist sleeper cells located in the United States. Several applicable criminal statutes were discussed ̶ all of them

felonies.

The presenters offered a short written quiz to challenge the knowledge of the attendees prior to the presentation. The quiz illustrated that this topic has many different elements and schemes associated with it. There are organized rings

that use some very sophisticated methods. In some types of schemes, all of the participants are suspects while in others, there are innocent victims. Among others, one high-profile insurance fraud case in southern California was

discussed on how the scheme went terribly wrong and innocent people were killed as a result of the attempted staged collision.

The topic for the summer 2010 quarterly training was Collision Fraud Investigation. It was

held in Anaheim on August 11 and in Sacramento on August 19. I attended the Anaheim

(Continued on Page 5)



Some investigative methods were presented and it became apparent how complicated these types of cases can

become. Along with some of the methods to find and track fraudulent cases, different types of collision schemes such as Swoop and Squat, Drive Downs, and Paper Accidents were presented. Each of six different fraudulent schemes were

discussed in detail.

Fraudulent hit and run cases and phantom vehicle cases seem to be on the rise. These types of cases, as well as signs of how to spot possible fraudulent cases were discussed. The presenters spoke about how suspects may conduct

intelligence gathering and what victim profiles they look for. Examples were given in which suspects case a corner of an intersection while waiting for the right time and victim to enter the area. This individual gives the other suspects some

type of hand signal and orchestrates the staged collision, almost like a conductor would lead an orchestra.

The active role of law enforcement proactively spotting fraudulent collisions was emphasized. First responders often miss these signs and generate a report that later only serves to help support the fraudulent insurance claim. A list of

red flags and key indicators was discussed to assist in providing a focus on these types of schemes and cases.

The afternoon brought chocolate chip cookies and detailed discussions on the players in these organized rings. These characters come in all shapes ̶ not only the crooks themselves, but doctors and attorneys as well. The organizers

carefully plan the operation and may even set up a management company to present or enhance the appearance of being legitimate. In some of the schemes, a doctor or attorney may become unknowingly involved and is taken

advantage of by the criminals. Insurance company employees have also been arrested in connection with organized insurance fraud schemes. Each of the different roles was presented and then discussed. The afternoon discussion

finished up with types of documents to look for during an investigation and examples of how they may look. Some documents may include a handful of business cards from a doctor or an attorney that specializes in accident claims, or

even a script or sketch of how the staged collision was to take place. The comments I overheard at the end of the day were positive and the training was well received.

Doug English is a 30-year veteran of the San Diego Police Department. Currently a sergeant in the Accident Investigation Bureau, he has been a traffic investigator since 1988 and a reconstructionist since 1994. He is the

principal of James D. English and Associates in San Diego, and is a member of several professional organizations including CAARS, and serves as President of the San Diego County Collision Investigators Association.

Training Review - Third QuarterCourtesy of Doug English, San Diego Police Department (continued)



Board of Directors Candidate Statements

As always, members in good standing will have the

opportunity to vote to determine who will represent them on the CAARS Board of Directors. The Board of Directors

helps steer the organization, oversees membership and training, and generally just keeps us on the right track.

The election will take place at the upcoming conference

next month. The position of Chairperson and two Directors-at-Large are open this year. Voting will take

place during the general membership meeting Friday morning October 15, 2010. If you are unable to attend

the conference you can still participate in the election process by requesting an absentee ballot via e-mail at

[email protected].

Chris Kauderer, Kauderer & AssociatesNominated for Chairperson

I am seeking election to the position of Chairperson of the

CAARS Board of Directors. I have been a member of CAARS

since 1999 and have served as a member of the CAARS Board

of Directors since 2003; the last three years in the role of

Vice-Chairperson. This year is my fourth year as Co-Chairman

of the Annual Fall Conference, to be held in South Lake Tahoe in October. I have over 25

years experience in the area of accident reconstruction and am ACTAR Certified. In addition to working as a

Private Accident Reconstructionist, I also teach accident reconstruction throughout the state. I have enjoyed

participating in the activities and growth of the CAARS organization during my seven years as a Board member.

I believe my years of service on the CAARS Board of

Directors offer me the experience and perspective to lead the Board and its membership into the next decade.

Board NomineesThrough the first twelve (12) years of the CAARS

organization, there have been three people who have admirably served as Chairperson of the Board of Directors.

If elected, I hope to follow in the footsteps of the previous Chairpersons and carry on the traditions and core tenets

which have made the CAARS organization one of the best in the country.

However, I also realize the current state of the economy

dictates some changes might be necessary in regards to how CAARS conducts business in the future.

I will do my best to ensure the interests and opinions of

the entire membership are heard and considered by the CAARS Board of Directors. Your support is appreciated.

Ch!s Kauderer





Michael Allison, Roseville Police DepartmentNominated for Director-at-Large

Michael Allison has been a police officer for 28 years and is currently a Lieutenant with the Roseville Police Department. During his career, he has worked as a patrol officer, traffic officer, and detective. While in the traffic division, Mr. Allison founded the Roseville Police Department's multi-disciplinary accident investigation team (M.A.I.T.). He has been a member of M.A.I.T. for 20 years and the team leader for 10 years. Mr. Allison has reconstructed thousands of traffic collisions and testified as an expert witness in criminal and civil litigation for federal and state jurisdictions. Additionally, Mr. Allison has been the Roseville Police Department’s Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) team leader for the past 10 years.

Michael Allison holds a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from Union University and has been certified by ACTAR as an accident reconstructionist. He has authored several papers in the Accident Reconstruction Journal and conducted numerous studies in the field of collision reconstruction for criminal prosecutions. He is a member of the California Association of Accident Reconstruction Specialists (CAARS).

Michael Allison founded Allison Accident Reconstruction 18 years ago, where he specialized in traffic collision reconstruction for clients across California. As a CAARS Board member, Mr. Allison will bring a significant amount of expertise and experience to the organization. His goals are to bring more hands-on training that focuses on real world applications. As the M.A.I.T. team leader, Mr. Allison led numerous automobile versus pedestrian studies that were ultimately admitted in criminal prosecutions. He would like to focus some of the CAARS training in this under-utilized discipline.

David Heinbaugh, San Ramon Police DepartmentNominated for Director-at-Large

I am seeking re-election to the CAARS Board of Directors for a second term. During my first term, the Board of Directors (as well as the membership) has faced many financial challenges during this past two years. As the state of the economy has strangled our training and operating budgets, we have had to make some difficult decisions regarding how to keep CAARS from going into the red. Although the 2009 conference was streamlined to save money, we were able to put together a great conference with professional speakers, a wonderful location and at the same basic price as past

conferences. I am looking forward to putting on another great conference in Lake Tahoe this Fall.

The goal I had when I first ran for the Board was to provide first-class training for this organization, and I believe that has been accomplished. My goal in this next term is to increase our membership so that other professionals in our field will have the opportunity to receive our valuable training. Thank you for your support.

Board Nominees

Dave Heinbaugh

Michael All#on


Candidate summaries provided by each individual.


Sean D. Shimada, PhD., President, Biomechanical Consultants of CANominated for Director-at-Large

I foremost want to express my gratitude for providing me the opportunity to be a part of the CAARS Board of Directors for the past two years. As many of you know, I have been associated with CAARS for several years in the capacity as a member and Director, as well as aspeaker for the regional training and annual conferences. Serving as a Director has allowed meto expand on my goal to increase the breadth of the Association. My original candidacy objective was to expand and grow a more diverse membership pool. I have focused my first two years doing so by creating and disseminating the “What Happened?” recruiting flyer that was sent to all CAARS members and law enforcement agencies throughout California. My second goal was to expand upon the topics at our training conferences by providing different perspectives and approaches to accident reconstruction. To date, I have not accomplished this goal to my satisfaction, and would like to utilize my second term, if elected, to do so.

If given an opportunity, I would like to provide our traffic collision reconstructionist members the prospect of exploring in greater detail collaborative analyses by working in tandem with medical and biomedical experts. With my experiences from academia, providing expert witness testimony, and consulting as a biomechanist and engineer, I believe that I can continue to contribute productively to the CAARS Board of Directors and Association.

Respectfully submitted, Sean D. Shimada, Ph.D.President, Biomechanical Consultants of CA

Bob Snook, Reichenberg and Snook, LLCNominated for Director-at-Large

I retired from the California Highway Patrol just over a year ago following a 30-year career. I was a proud member of the CHP’s MAIT program for over 25 of those years moving up through the ranks from Road Patrol Officer/Associate MAIT Investigator to becoming the full-time Sergeant Team Leader of the MAIT unit based in Sacramento; the position I held at the time of my retirement.

I have been a member of CAARS since August of 1999. During that time I have seen this fine organization grow in numbers and diversity for the betterment of all of us. I have personally

benefited from the training, resources, and contacts that CAARS has provided over these past eleven years. Many individuals deserve a great deal of credit for their hard work and dedication in keeping CAARS running smoothly. Now that I am retired, I have the time and energy necessary to do my part and help out as so many before me have done.

For this reason, I have decided to run for a Board position. I feel I have a lot to offer to our organization. In addition to my knowledge of collision investigation and reconstruction, I also have extensive training and practical experience in organizational and management responsibilities. Not only did I gain a considerable amount of experience while supervising and coordinating large, complex MAIT level investigations, I currently teach A/I related courses in Northern and Southern California and I served on the Executive Boards of two of the largest sports organizations in Northern California. If you will give me your vote – I promise to dedicate myself to continue the great work done by previous Board members and will continually strive to improve our organization.

Thank you for your consideration,

Bob Snook

Board Nominees


Sean Shimada

Bob Snook

...over 50 Years

Looking back...

...of

Safety

Innovations



Patent No. DBP 854 157: The "Crumple Zone", Life-Saver of Thousands

Stuttgart, Germany – Over 60 years ago Mercedes-Benz presented what would become a common life-saving

fixture on cars: the crumple zone. On 23 January 1951, Daimler-Benz AG applied for patent number DBP 854 157, using the unadorned description of "Motor vehicles especially for the transportation of people." Concealed

behind this was the invention of the deformable areas at the front and rear of a car that is still today generally referred to as “the crumple zone.”

In the decades that followed, this patent revolutionized the entire automotive industry and became the decisive factor in "passive safety." In more recent times, it has even been applied in railway locomotive and carriage

design. The ingenious mastermind of the idea was Béla Barényi for whom the maxim of the time – "a safe car must not yield but be stable" – was completely inappropriate. He was the first to discover that in a collision,

kinetic energy must be absorbed through deformation in order for the occupants to be protected. He logically split the car body into three "boxes": a soft front section, a rigid passenger cell and a soft rear section.

The patent was granted on August 28, 1952. Rigid passenger cell and interior designed to reduce injury hazards in an accident. On a global scale, Barényi's safety bodywork made its debut in production cars in the first six-

cylinder Mercedes-Benz 220, 220 S and 220 SE models of 1959, their most striking feature being distinctive tail fins. Developments under the engine hood were equally revolutionary: the steering gear moved far to the rear

and the auxiliary units were arranged in such a way so as not to form blocks with each other in the event of a collision, but rather to slip past one another, permitting more effective crumpling of the bodywork.

Inside this Mercedes, the most significant improvement was only to be detected after giving it a second look: for the first time ever, the interior was completely redesigned in order to reduce the injury hazard in an accident.

Hard or sharp-edged controls were replaced by yielding, rounded or recessed units, combined with recessed door handles, a dashboard which yielded on impact, padded window ledges, window winders, armrests and sun visors

and a steering wheel that featured a large padded boss. Under heavy impact, the rear-view mirror was released from its bracket.

In 1961, anchorage points for seat belts were fitted as standard in the "tail fin." Lap belts were available from 1957, and the first diagonal shoulder belts appeared in 1962. Round-shoulder tyres also made their debut on

this car. "Terracruiser": Béla Barényi’s contribution to the company and other milestones.

In October 1948, engineer and inventor Béla Barényi signed his new employment contract with Daimler-Benz AG,

where he had worked previously between 1939 and 1946. He contributed his concept for a "car of the future for the two-to-three litre class", the "Terracruiser" as he called it, which had been in development for several years.

Striking at first glance on this design was the car's body, which was split into three sections, giving it a front end, a passenger compartment and a tail. The two outer sections were strictly separated by the passenger cell which

itself was flexibly mounted in a "cradle position." This mounting was to absorb vibrations as well as offer protection in the event of a collision.

One other thing: to protect the driver as effectively as possible in a lateral crash, the driver’s seat, including all instruments and controls, was arranged centrally in a complex "bridge." The Terracruiser was designed as a



Innovations in Automotive HistoryA look Back over the Last 50 Years

http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2009/07/10/469322.html#








three-box body with outstanding aerodynamic efficiency. Barényi developed a huge range of trailblazing safety elements alongside the Terracruiser. These include such essentials as the safety steering column, the steering wheel impact absorber, the "disappearing windscreen wiper" and, highly important for interior safety, the

protective side moulding. His modular design principle, which he developed so early on, has become relevant only recently. By the end of his professional career, the restless Béla Barényi was able to call 2,500 patents his own.

Originally posted July 10, 2009 at www.theautochannel.com/news/2009/07/10/469322.htm

FIr

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Mercedes-Benz safety engineering genius Bela Berenyi.

Mercedes-Benz 220 SE crumple zones

Patent for the crumple zone:

Patent No. DBP 854 157



Innovations in Automotive HistoryThe “Crumple Zone”(continued)





http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2009/07/10/469322.htm

http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2009/07/10/469322.htm

Nils Bohlin[17 July 1920 – 21 September 2002]

Swedish inventor of the three~point safety belt

for cars (US Patent Number 3043625)

On September 21, 2002, Nils Bohlin was Inducted into the US National Inventors Hall of Fame for Inventing the 3~point Safety Belt and he died

at home in Sweden

Volvos First Safety Engineer Saved Countless Lives and Advocated Seatbelt Safety

It wasn’t the Crash Test Dummies who convinced a skeptical US public that the 3-point lap/shoulder safety belt was the safest way to go in automobiles. It was a video of a crash cart with an egg strapped in that made the case to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission for Nils Bohlin, safety engineer for Volvo in Gottenberg, Sweden. For Bohlin knew when he came to America in 1968 to present his work that creating acceptance for his belt and, more importantly, for wearing it was as important as the design for the device itself.

Nils Bohlin, inventor of the 3-point safety belt, is one of the inductees into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 2002. US patent #3043625 for the invention was assigned in 1962 to Volvo, the automotive company that hired Bohlin as their first safety engineer.

Bohlin began his career as an engineer designing ejector seats for the Swedish aviation industry in the mid-1950's. At that time, safety belts in cars were strapped across the body, with the buckle placed over the abdomen. The position of the buckle often caused severe internal injuries in high-speed crashes.

Ten years before the egg cart demonstration, in 1958, Bohlin was recruited to Volvo by its then-president, Gunnar Engellau, with a mandate to make safety a principle selling

point in the company’s cars. Coming from the aerospace

industry, Bohlin had seen the stresses that a human body undergoes in high-speed crash situations, and he

understood the limitations of restraint devices, particularly those that were cumbersome, uncomfortable and difficult

to use.

Following a year of extensive testing and re-engineering, his breakthrough came with the realization

that both the upper and the lower body must be held securely in place with one strap across the chest and one

across the hips, with the joint for the two belts located just next to the occupants hip. It was an elegant solution,

so simple that a person could buckle-up with just one hand and be comfortable in the process.

Simple though it was, it took nearly a decade from the

time Volvo sent Bohlin to the US to make his case to the Consumer Products Safety Commission until the three-

point belt was widely adopted in North America. Initially they were standard equipment only for the front seats, but

they have since been installed in the rear seats as well.

In a way, my design works as much because the belt is comfortable for the user as it does because it is safer,

Bohlin said. The pilots I worked with in the aerospace industry were willing to put on almost anything to keep

them safe in case of a crash, but regular people in cars don’t want to be uncomfortable even for a minute.

Without consumer acceptance, no car company or government agency can mandate that you buckle-up.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

(NHTSA) estimated that for the year 2000, safety belt usage in the US reached 85%, preventing 102'158 injuries,

saving 4194 lives and $6.7 billion ̶ and that is just in the US. Also according to the NHTSA, lap and shoulder belts

reduce the risk of fatality in a car crash by 45-60%, and reduce the risk of serious injury by 50-65%.



Innovations in Automotive HistoryA look Back over the Last 50 Years

Continued on Page 13

Bohlin's work in the US also was

instrumental in the development of seatbelt safety laws. In 2002, 49 states

have laws mandating seatbelt use.

Many improvements have been made in automotive safety over the years, and each

manufacturer has its own unique way of styling safety into the overall design of the

car. But, worldwide, the Bohlin-type belt, patented in 1962, is standard equipment on virtually every

new vehicle.

My greatest pleasure comes when I meet people who tell me that a seat belt saved their life or the life of a loved

one, Bohlin said. Many inventions make life better for people. I have been fortunate to work in the area of safety

engineering, where innovation doesn't just improve our lives; it actually can save lives. I feel truly fortunate to be

inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame. Nils Bohlin had a long and distinguished career in safety

engineering in both the aerospace and automotive

industries. His accomplishments

earned him awards and honors around the world, including his

patent being selected as one of eight which have had the greatest

importance to mankind in the last century by the Patent Office of West

Germany.

He has been elected into the International Safety and Health Hall of Fame and the

Automotive Hall of Fame, both in the US, and, in 1995, he received a Gold Medal from the Royal Swedish Academy of

Engineering Sciences.

Bohlin retired in 1995 and lived in Ramfall, Sweden where he enjoyed his garden and remained active as a

safety advocate until the stroke he suffered in May 2002. which was followed by a heart attack a few days before his

death on 21 September 2002, the very day that he was inducted into the US National Inventors Hall of Fame.

Article originally published at http://www.safran-arts.com/42day/history/h4sep/21bohlin.html

Innovations in Automotive HistoryA Retrospective of Nils Bohlin (continued)


Try not to become a man of success but a man of value. Albert Einstein


http://www.safran-arts.com/42day/history/h4sep/21bohlin.html

http://www.safran-arts.com/42day/history/h4sep/21bohlin.html

Upcoming ACTAR Examination Dates and Locations

N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 0

Saturday, November 13: Marietta, Georgia, at the Cobb County Police Training Center. Sponsored by ACTAR. New Applications must be received by September 13, 2010. Exam Registration Cutoff Date: October 13, 2010

A P R I L 2 0 1 1

Wednesday, April 27: Willoughby Hills, Ohio, at the Willoughby Hills Community Center. Sponsored by ACTAR. New Applications must be received by February 27, 2011. Exam Registration Cutoff Date: March 27, 2011

J U N E 2 0 1 1

Thursday, June 16: Cedar Rapids, Iowa, held after MwATAI 25th Anniversary Conference. Sponsored by MwATAI. New Applications must be received by April 16, 2011. Exam Registration Cutoff Date: May 16, 2011

As a result of the ACTAR Governing Board of Directors vote, the authorized calculator policy now taking effect for May 2011 will be the current list put forth by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (see below). This will be our base list, and is subject to being amended. ACTAR will likely undertake another review sometime before the May deadline.

Casio: All fx-115 models. Any Casio calculator must contain fx-115 in its model name. Examples of acceptable Casio fx-115 models include (but are not limited to): fx-115 MS, fx-115 MS Plus, fx-115 MS SR, and fx-115 ES

Hewlett Packard: The HP 33s and HP 35s models, but no others.

Texas Instruments: All TI-30X and TI-36X models. Any Texas Instruments calculator must contain either TI-30X

or TI-36X in its model name. Examples of acceptable TI-30X and TI-36X models include (but are not limited to):

TI-30Xa, TI-30Xa SOLAR, TI-30Xa SE, TI-30XS Multiview, TI-30X IIB, TI-30X IIS, TI-36X II, TI-36X SOLAR

Go to www.ACTAR.org for additional information regarding the testing process.

Information and logo used with permission.

Accreditation Commission for Traffic Accident Reconstruction



Editor’s Note:

We are always looking for interesting articles or reviews of collision reconstruction products. If you are interested in writing a book review, submitting an interesting article, or have photographs of

adjudicated cases for discussion, please forward your information to [email protected]

http://www.ACTAR.org

http://www.ACTAR.org



Board Meeting Minutes

June 12, 2010 ̶ Meeting called to order at approximately 9:30 am

Present: Chairperson Kent E. Boots; Vice-Chairperson Chris Kauderer; Board Members: Sean Shimada, Dave

Heinbaugh, John Crews, Dave Cameron, and Jahna Beard; Administrative Staff: Tim Neumann, Newsletter Editor. Absent: Administrative Staff: Monica Franksen, Treasurer; Kevin Cassidy, Membership Chair; and Jincy Pace, Liaison

to ACTAR.

Old Business: Review and approval of previous board meeting minutes from January 30, 2010.

Motion: Dave Heinbaugh makes a motion to approve January 30, 2010, minutes, John Crews seconds the motion.Vote: Motion carried unanimously.

Votes to be read into the record: (1)

Motion: Sean Shimada made a motion on March 18, 2010, to design and send recruiting flyers to police

departments as long as the cost does not exceed $1,000. Chris Kauderer seconded the motion the same date. Kent called for vote on March 21, 2010.

Vote: Motion carried unanimously on March 26, 2010.

Quarterly training: Total cost for first quarter training: $1,447.74. Total cost for second quarter training: $1,497.00.

Flyers̶recruiting efforts: Discussion of costs and results of flyers/recruiting efforts. Action Item: Nichole will

e-mail board members actual numbers of flyers sent out.

Use of CAARS logo: Discussion about who can use CAARS logo and when. Action Item: Sean Shimada and Kent Boots to meet with Jason at Ink Monkey regarding marketing products and use of CAARS logo. The Board will revisit

this topic at a later time.

Policy Manual: Discussion regarding policies and consequences of failure to adhere to the policies.Motion: Chris Kauderer makes motion to approve suggested CAARS Policy Manual, Revision 3 and Dave Heinbaugh

seconds the motion.Vote: Motion carried unanimously.

Action Item: Kent will notify administrative staff of new policies. Policies will be put in policy manual and distributed to all Board members and administrative staff. Discussion of expenses and budget for quarterly training.

Motion: Chris Kauderer makes a motion that training coordinator has permission to spend up to $1,500 per quarter

for speakers without prior approval by Board of Directors. Jahna Beard seconds the motion.Vote: Motion carried unanimously.



Random quote of the month: "I drank WHAT?!?" -- Socrates

Motion: Dave Heinbaugh makes a motion that training coordinator has permission to deposit the monies collected

during quarterly training and at the conference. Dave Cameron seconds the motion.Vote: Motion carried unanimously.

2010 Conference

Motion: Chris Kauderer makes a motion to approve Daniel Vomhoff to be the third speaker at the Fall conference as well as providing him three nights hotel stay, $300 travel stipend and $125 vendor fee (50% of total cost).

Sean Shimada seconds the motion.Vote: Motion carried unanimously.

Action Item: Chris Kauderer will let Daniel Vomhoff know that he has been approved as a speaker at the conference and the details of payment.

Discussion regarding determining price of conference:

Motion: Dave Cameron makes a motion to amend the original motion to change language from “if received” to “postmarked by.” Chris Kauderer seconds the motion.

Vote: Motion carried unanimously.

Officer Reports:

Treasurer: Balance as of June 1, 2010 ̶ $19,348.68 (not including incoming membership fees).

Membership: Total members as of June 11, 2010 ̶ 293, of which 252 expired on July 1, 2010.

Newsletter: Working on updated pictures and articles from members.

Nonprofit status: Discussion of legal aspects of status.

Motion: Dave Heinbaugh makes a motion to adjourn the meeting. John Crews seconds the motion.Vote: Motion carries unanimously.

Meeting adjourned at approximately 3:20 pm

Meeting MinutesContinued from Page 15



EDITOR’S PICK – FOOD FOR THOUGHTInteresting, Thought-Provoking Reading

the invisible gorillaand other ways our intuitions deceive us

Christopher Chabris and Daniel Simons



A Must Read: The Invisible GorillaA book about why we don't see invisible gorillas

Review by James C. Kaufman

� In my next-to-last blog, I reviewed two recent psychology releases that I actually enjoyed reading. Now I'll recommend one of the best psychology books I've read. My biggest qualm about the book is that it crushes one of my

favorite in-class demonstrations.

� I first encountered Daniel Simons, the second author of the book in question, when he gave a talk at my graduate school. The only words I remembered from the title were "visual" and "cognition," so I went out of a sense

of duty. I've always gravitated toward "soft cognitive" psychology and away from "hard cognitive" - indeed, there are entire (huge) domains within cognitive psychology that I understand remarkably poorly. I vaguely remember that we

have myelin sheaths. I'm still not sure what they do. Maybe they store our memories of the first time we tried seafood. Anyway, Simons, to my surprise, gave the best talk I've ever seen. Not one of the best talks - the best talk.

(Refer to the YouTube video, “Movie Perception Test,” from Levin and Simons (1997) for additional information).

� And I was hooked. Inattentional blindness - I'd never heard those words before. But the idea that we simply don't notice things - obvious things! - was fascinating. He showed videos of experiments in which a student holding a

basketball asked a passerby for directions. In the course of the hapless passerby's interaction with the student, a confederate snuck up behind the student and took the basketball away. After the directions were over, the student

asked the passerby, "Do you notice anything different about me?" Most participants didn't notice that the basketball was gone. As if this wasn't enough, they did one better (observe YouTube video “The Door Study,” Levin and Simons

(1998) for additional).

� The coup d ‘grace, however, was here (YouTube video “Selective Attention Test,” 1999, Daniel J. Simons). I love this video. I show it to my critical thinking class every year and at least half the class assumes that I'm joking

when I say there was a gorilla. So, I go back and show the video again, some people still think I've been showing them two different videos.

� I still hold Simons' initial talk as the apex of what all psychology talks could be (and what most do not reach). It

was scientific, interesting, and with real-world applications (which I will discuss shortly). So my biggest reservation about Daniel Simons' new book, The Invisible Gorilla, written with his colleague Christopher Chabris, is that they're

spoiling the shock of the video. All it takes is for a few people in the class to remember seeing the book in a Barnes and Noble and the effect is gone.

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/and-all-jazz/201009/psych-books-can-be-fun

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/and-all-jazz/201009/psych-books-can-be-fun

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-gorilla-guys

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-gorilla-guys

http://www.psychologytoday.com/basics/cognition

http://www.psychologytoday.com/basics/cognition

http://www.psychologytoday.com/basics/memory

http://www.psychologytoday.com/basics/memory

http://www.theinvisiblegorilla.com/

http://www.theinvisiblegorilla.com/

Cover Images: http://www.iihs.org/50th/default.html US Seatbelt map http://www.iihs.org/laws/SafetyBeltUse.aspxalso Airbag http://www.iihs.org/research/qanda/airbags.html Child Restraint http://

www.iihs.org/research/topics/child_restraints/default.html too late helmet http://www.who.int/roadsafety/week/resources/posters/en/index.html Seatbelt sticker http://www.dcroadrules.com/_img/bannerSeatBeltSafety.jpg

Nihls Bohlin http://extras.sacvolvoclub.org/photos-file-cabinet/nils_bohlin_1959_threepoint-5139.jpg Windshield http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Laminated-glass Helmet Laws http://store.abateonline.org/catalog/images/Sticker_HelmetLawsSuck_sm.gif Helmet Cartoon http://ohiobikelawyer.com/wp-content/Helmet-Law-Debate-Cartoon.gif MBZ Patent Article http://

www.theautochannel.com/news/2009/07/10 Bohlin Patent Article http://www.design-technology.info/inventors/safety-belt-patent-description-bohlin.jpg Small black Volvo www.swedecar.com/images/ photos/

1944%20PV444.jpg Volvo PV 444 Model http://www.volvocars.com/us/top/about/values/pages/safety.aspx Mercedes “crumple zone” images located at www.media2.worldcarfans.com Cones www.carinsurancequoteca.com NICB www.endcartheft.com NICB http://content.usatoday.com/communities/driveon/post/2010/05/staged-accidents-to-bilk-insurers-increase-sharply/1 calif_dept_ins_logo.jpeg Board Meeting scribbled note page with

camel www.pittsburghcitypaper.ws Reader Poll www.michaelhyatt.com. Non Sequitor comic http://www.gocomics.com/nonsequitur/2010/09/11/ Gorilla photo http://www.theinvisiblegorilla.com/index.html

Students with gorilla near elevator, www.skepticalteacher.wordpress.com, gorilla and man reading paper, www.neurosciencemarketing.com Post-It note on head www.blogs.smithsonianmag.com, banana Post-It

www.draw.vox.com

PhotoCredits



� That aside, this is an amazing book. It explains the real reason why talking on your cell phone while

driving is dangerous. It isn't because of reduced motor control (indeed, all of the new cell phone laws, which require a hands-free device, are quite misguided). It's because it drains your attentional resources. You don't

believe you're impaired because you can perform the basic task just fine - most people don't veer off the road while chatting on their phone. The problem comes when you enter a rare, sudden event -- a deer charges into

the road or a ghost materializes in your back seat and starts singing Bob Dylan songs. You're much more likely to get into an accident in these unexpected circumstances if you are distracted by the phone. The Invisible Gorilla

tells us why we sometimes remember other people's stories as our own. It discusses why it's okay to go to a doctor who says "I'm not sure; let me check" instead of the doctor

who is always confident. It explains why brainstorming usually doesn't work and why movies have so many continuity errors.

� It is quite rare that I read a psychology book aimed at

laypeople and then push it on people. Robert Cialdini's Influence was one such book (and it remains on my "required reading" list). The Invisible Gorilla is another. There are all sorts

of things that people expect me to know because I'm a psychologist (thankfully, knowing how to fix the sink isn't one of them). Reading books like Influence and The Invisible Gorilla teaches me

those things. Indeed, my second hesitation is recommending the book is if more people that read it then more people will already know my cool psychology

anecdotes. In the interest of the greater good, however, I am writing this book review.

Originally published on September 10, 2010 in Psychology Today

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/and-all-jazz/201009/must-read-the-invisible-gorilla

James C. Kaufman is a creativity researcher and Associate Professor of Psychology at California State University of San Bernardino.

EDITOR’S PICK

http://www.iihs.org/50th/default.html

http://www.iihs.org/50th/default.html

http://www.iihs.org/laws/SafetyBeltUse.aspxalso




http://www.iihs.org/research/qanda/airbags.html

http://www.iihs.org/research/qanda/airbags.html

http://www.iihs.org/research/topics/child_restraints/default.html




http://www.who.int/roadsafety/week/resources/posters/en/index.html




http://www.dcroadrules.com/_img/bannerSeatBeltSafety.jpg

http://www.dcroadrules.com/_img/bannerSeatBeltSafety.jpg

http://extras.sacvolvoclub.org/photos-file-cabinet/nils_bohlin_1959_threepoint-5139.jpg

http://extras.sacvolvoclub.org/photos-file-cabinet/nils_bohlin_1959_threepoint-5139.jpg

http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Laminated-glass

http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Laminated-glass

http://ohiobikelawyer.com/wp-content/Helmet-Law-Debate-Cartoon.gif




http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2009/07/10

http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2009/07/10

http://www.design-technology.info/inventors/safety-belt-patent-description-bohlin.jpg




http://www.volvocars.com/us/top/about/values/pages/safety.aspx

http://www.volvocars.com/us/top/about/values/pages/safety.aspx

http://www.media2.worldcarfans.com

http://www.media2.worldcarfans.com

http://www.carinsurancequoteca.com

http://www.carinsurancequoteca.com

http://www.endcartheft.com

http://www.endcartheft.com

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/driveon/post/2010/05/staged-accidents-to-bilk-insurers-increase-sharply/1




http://www.pittsburghcitypaper.ws

http://www.pittsburghcitypaper.ws

http://www.michaelhyatt.com

http://www.michaelhyatt.com

http://www.gocomics.com/nonsequitur/2010/09/11/




http://www.theinvisiblegorilla.com/index.html

http://www.theinvisiblegorilla.com/index.html

http://www.skepticalteacher.wordpress.com

http://www.skepticalteacher.wordpress.com

http://www.neurosciencemarketing.com

http://www.neurosciencemarketing.com

http://www.blogs.smithsonianmag.com

http://www.blogs.smithsonianmag.com

http://www.draw.vox.com

http://www.draw.vox.com

http://www.amazon.com/Influence-Psychology-Persuasion-Robert-Cialdini/dp/0688128165

http://www.amazon.com/Influence-Psychology-Persuasion-Robert-Cialdini/dp/0688128165

http://theinvisiblegorilla.com/blog/








2010 CA2RS Board of Directors Election – Absentee Ballot

Chairperson Position Running Unopposed

Chris Kauderer

Director at large

Vote for no more than two candidates

Mike Allison

David Heinbaugh

Sean Shimada

Bob Snook ______________________________ ______________________________ Printed Name Signature

Please print your name and sign in the appropriate spaces above.

Completed ballots must be received no later than October 14th, 2010 and can be:

1. Scanned and sent via email to [email protected] 2. Sent via Fax to (916)2900418 3. Or mailed to:

Kent E. Boots 2351 Sunset Blvd., Ste. #170562 Rocklin, CA 95765



Print this ballot and mail it in if you won’t be at the conference - make your vote count.

We often see warning signs on the side of the road,

some of which include a speed under the sign as shown in the photo on the right. Is this speed a suggestion, a

speed limit, or an advisory speed? What does it really mean? Is it enforceable, in other words could you issue a

ticket for failing to obey a posted sign (1) if a vehicle were traveling faster than 25 mph? Or could you find a

vehicle at fault in a traffic collision simply because it was traveling faster than 25 mph? This sign appears on a

roadway of approximately 20’ width with no lane markings (undivided). There is no posted speed limit in

the area so the maximum speed limit of 55 mph is in effect (2). For the sake of this discussion, let’s assume

all of the necessary signs were properly posted.

Police officers will generally first reference the vehicle

code so let’s look there first. Section 21461(a) California Vehicle Code states, in part, that it is unlawful

for a driver of a vehicle to fail to obey a sign or signal

defined as regulatory in the

federal Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices

(MUTCD).

Regulatory signs instruct

drivers to do - or not do - something. MUTCD Section

2B.01 states in part that regulatory signs shall be used

to inform road users of selected traffic laws or

regulations and indicate the applicability of the legal requirements. These types of signs shall be installed at

or near where the regulations apply. The signs shall clearly indicate the requirements the regulations impose

(3). An example is shown below left (R3-4).

Warning signs, on the other hand, alert drivers to

existing or potentially hazardous road conditions. MUTCD

Section 2C.01 states in part that warning signs call attention to

unexpected conditions on or adjacent to a highway, street, or private roads

open to public travel and to situations that might not be readily

apparent to road users. They alert drivers to conditions that might call

for a reduction of speed or an action in the interest of safety and efficient

traffic operations. Warning signs shall be diamond-shaped (square with

one diagonal vertical) with a black legend and border on a yellow

background unless specifically

designated otherwise (4). An

example is shown below (W1-5).

The

questions at hand have to

do with the speed

posted below the warning

sign. The MUTCD describes this as an advisory

speed. Random House Dictionary defines “advisory” as an

announcement or bulletin that serves to advise and usually warn the public,

as of some potential hazard (5).

In 2009 a new table, 2C-5, was

added to define the required, recommended, and optional

Horizontal Alignment warning signs to be used in different situations and

conditions. Horizontal curves account for 25% of all highway

fatalities. The changes are aimed at

improving and strengthening the requirements for signing horizontal

curves. The requirements are based on the speed differential between the

roadway posted or statutory speed limit or 85th percentile speed, which

ever is higher, and the horizontal curve advisory speed (6).

MUTCD Section 2C.08 states in part the Advisory Speed (W13-1P, on

next page) plaque may be used to supplement any warning sign to

indicate the advisory speed for a condition.

If used, the Advisory Speed plaque shall carry the message XX

MPH, and the speed displayed shall be a multiple of 5 mph. An Advisory

Speed plaque shall not be installed until the advisory speed has been

determined by an engineering study.


Continued on Page 21

What Do You Think?


The following are among the established engineering practices appropriate for the determination of the

recommended advisory speed for a horizontal curve are:

A. An accelerometer that provides a direct determination of side friction factors

B. A design speed equation

C. A traditional ball-bank indicator using the following criteria:

1. 16 degrees of ball-bank for speeds of 20 mph or less

2. 14 degrees of ball-bank for speeds of 25 to 30 mph

3. 12 degrees of ball-bank for speeds of 35 mph and higher

Research has shown that drivers often exceed existing posted advisory curve speeds by 7 to 10 mph (7).

The California Driver Handbook talks about the difference between warning signs and regulatory signs. A four-sided diamond-shaped sign warns you of specific road conditions and dangers ahead. Many warning signs are diamond-

shaped. A white rectangular sign means you must obey important rules. Obey all warning signs regardless of their shape.

Final Comments

It would seem, based upon the supporting documentation, that an advisory speed indicated on a warning sign is not

enforceable in California under §21461(a) CVC because it is not defined as regulatory in the MUTCD. So in and of itself, exceeding the 25 mph advisory speed is not a violation of law. However, the Driver Handbook states to obey

all warning signs.

What Do You Think?



References

(1) Section 21461(a) California Vehicle Code

(2) Section 22349(b) California Vehicle Code

(3) Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), 2009 Edition, U.S. Department of Transportation – Federal Highway Administration, http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/index.htm, page 45

(4) IBID, page 103

(5) Advisory. Dictionary.com. Dictionary.com Unabridged. Random House, Inc. located at http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/advisory (accessed: 9/10/2010).

(6) Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), 2009 Edition, U.S. Department of Transportation – Federal Highway Administration, http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/index.htm, Section 2C.07, pages 110-111

(7) IBID, Section 2C.08, page 112

(8) California Department of Motor Vehicles, 2010 California Driver Handbook, page 26

http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/index.htm


http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/advisory

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/advisory



FUture Reader Polls

Do you keep having that same argument with your co-workers and still can’t

decide on the interpretation of a certain section or approach to something?

Help make the newsletter interesting by sending in your question and get the informal feedback of the CAARS

membership. Send your information to the Editor at

[email protected]

So...What Do You Think?


Reader Poll

Would you find a vehicle at fault or as an associated factor in a traffic collision because it was traveling faster than the

posted advisory speed?

� ❶ Yes, but I don’t know what the violation would be

� ② Yes, for § 22350 CVC (unsafe speed for conditions)

� ❸ No

� ④ No, but I would mention it in the narrative of the report

� ❺ I don’t know

� ⑥ It would depend on the circumstances

Log into the Member’s Only section of the CAARS website to log your opinion.

The results of the poll will be posted in the next newsletter.

Reminder!!The Annual CAARS Fall

Conference is fast approaching!! Check the

website for additional information and be sure to

enjoy the beautiful scenery in South Lake Tahoe, California!!

You know collision reconstruction is cool when people have to make up cartoons just to use “momentum” and “antlers” on the

same Post-It note






It is one thing to talk about what happened...

Imagine being able to show exactly what happened.

Call for a live demonstration and we will animate your collision!!

Call 1.888.828.0383 or visit us online at www.visualstatement.com

CAARS - California Association of Accident Reconstruction Specialists

Headquarters

PO Box 53536

San Jose, California 95153

www.CA2RS.com

http://www.visualstatement.com

http://www.visualstatement.com

http://www.CA2RS.com

http://www.CA2RS.com

Documents

A Look Back at 50 Years of Safety Innovations 50, Sep 2010.pdfLiaison to ACTAR - Jincy Pace [email protected] Newsletter - Tim Neumann [email protected] materials from the three most