Positive feedback from 2nd Annual International Crash Conference
When the Road Traffic Management Corporation hosted the 2nd Annual International Crash Conference in Cape Town between 27 and 30 October, this year, there was great interest again from the Law Enforcement sector.
As part of the contribution to the Conference, Fleetwatch Magazine, under the watchful eye of Partick O’Leary ran another “Brake and Tyre Watch” campaign on 23 and 24 October 2008, here in the Western Cape. This program involved the education of law enforcement officers in the identification of Truck and Bus Mechanical System conditions that could or do contribute to un-roadworthiness.
As this is a unique opportunity for us to gather many law enforcement officers in one location, we decided to offer a day of free training to all the officers as well. We then trained more than 100 Law Enforcement Officers, assessors and private accident investigators on accident investigation on the day before the Fleetwatch program, as part of a sponsorship to the Road Traffic Management Corporation, to the value of over R 100,000.00.
Upon conclusion of our training, we asked all the attendees to complete a basic questionnaire, in an effort to establish whether the training was relevant, topical of benefit to them, and whether they learned anything and enjoyed the presenter – Stan Bezuidenhout.
On the questionnaires, we asked only eight questions, and were amazed at the feedback. Here were the results of the training feedback:
Results of the training:
Of the more than 105 parties present, we finally received 87 feed-back forms that were filled in.
• Question 1: Quality of the Course? (Options: Excellent, Good, Fair and Poor)
81.6% thought it was excellent, 17.2 that it was Good and 2.3% that it was Fair.
• Question 2: Presenter? (Options: Excellent, Good, Fair and Poor)
87.4% of attendees thought he was excellent, 11.5 that he was good and 1.1% selected Fair
• Question 3: Easy to Follow? (Options: Excellent, Good, Fair and Poor)
63.2% chose to select Excellent, 32.2% Good and 1.1% Fair
• Question 4: Important to me? (Options: Excellent, Good, Fair and Poor)
73.6% described the importance by selecting Excellent, 25.3% Good and 1.1% Fair
• Question 5: Important to my colleagues? (Options: Excellent, Good, Fair and Poor)
77% selected Excellent, 21.8% Good and 1.1% selected Fair
• Question 6: Topical and Relevant? (Options: Excellent, Good, Fair and Poor)
75.9% selected Excellent, while 20.7% selected Good and 1.1% Fair
• Question 7: Did you learn anything? (Options: Yes or No)
98.9% Selected yes and 1.1% No
• Question 8: Would you like to learn more? (Options: Yes or No)
100% Selected Yes
We consider this not only proof positive that IBF Investigations is very good at providing training, but also – and possibly even more importantly – that training is in desperate shortage in the law enforcement sector and that even one day of training provided to operational, experienced law enforcement personnel is more than some of them have ever received!
The last option on the feed-back forms allowed for comments. In order for members and attendees to feel free and open to provide any and all comments they saw fir, the Feed-back forms were anonymous, and their names were not recorded. These are just some of the comments that were written on these forms:
“Follow-up course/session”
“More training in Central Karoo”
“Workshop should be more than one day. Excellent course!!”
“Workshop was provided in an outstanding manner”
“Course is a definite plus point in the SAPS and will help achieve high standards”
“Let people on ground level attend the course in stead of Snr. Officers. It will help them more than the officers.”
“You need to explain the sketch plan in more detailed”
“Every policeman especially youngsters need this from college days”
“Very insightful and a definite need.”
“Hope to see more workshops such as this”
“Excellent Course. Need a follow-up please”
“It just proves the shortcomings that we encounter as law enforcement officers”
“These work session must be conducted in cluster station area to reach all personnel”
“Thanks Stan – please more of the good stuff! When?”
“It’s already a success”
“I believe that this course would be of very good quality and importance to police LCRC members and not much detectives.”
“Would like the course to be given more days”
“The course was very important and I learnt a lot. It should be done more often.”
“This must form part of basic training”
“I would like the course to be at least one week”
While we are very happy to receive such great compliments and that many members enjoyed it, we feel that this is again proof of how desperately additional training is needed within law enforcement!
Stanley S Bezuidenhout
Forensic Accident Reconstructionist/
IBF Investigations cc
[ The Arrive Alive Website and this Blog would like to encourage all traffic officers to do the utmost in enhancing their skills in the detection and removal of non roadworthy vehicles!]
i would just like to find out where a person could do a accident reconstruction course
Thanks
Tina Ditlow
ACCREDITATION OF SHORT COURSES
THE INVESTIGATION OF SERIOUS TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS
1. Competency Certificates to be issued if learner achieves an average of
70% our higher.
2. Attendance Certificates to be issued if learner achieves an average of
less than 70%.
3. The Course Leader: Prof. C.J. Bester
4. Internal Presenter: Mr. Pieter Crous (Applied Mathematics)
5. External presenter: Mr. J.B. Joubert
6.1 Title of course: The Investigation of Serious Traffic Accidents
6.2 Subject: Civil Engineering
6.3 Credits: 80 Hours of classroom lectures
2 Hours of home work, reading through next days work, studying for exams, one every day. (20 Hours)
3 Months between first and second week of course, with another free months after second week of course, applying what was learned in first week and compiling of practical documentation for evaluation.
2 x 12 Hours (24 hours)
Total Hours: 124 Hours 12 Credits
7. NQF level: Level 5
8. Duration: 6 Months
9. Purpose:
The Investigation of Serious Traffic Accidents is for people in different Law Enforcement Agencies as well as Assessors in the Private Sector that to this point has been involved only in the first level of Accident Investigation, namely: reporting of a vehicle collision, or the mere completion of the AR from. This course is designed to take you to the next level of accident investigation.
People accredited with this certificate will be able to investigate serious traffic accidents. In particular, people credited with this certificate will have achieved the following specific outcomes:
The learner must be able to
1. gather information from the people involved in traffic accidents.
2. gather physical evidence from the road.
3. take photographs from the accident scene, vehicles and fixed objects involved, including the physical evidence.
4. take accurate measurements of the accident scene in order to draw a plan of the accident scene.
5. analyze damage to vehicles as the result of the accident.
6. examine lamps in order to determine if the lamps were on or not before the accident.
7. mechanically inspect the vehicles involved in the accident.
8. Inspect the tyres and tire safety.
9. determine basic velocity and reaction time from skid marks.
LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE
The credit calculation is based on the assumption that learners have no previous at-scene accident investigation experience when starting to learn towards this unit standard. Although not required, it is recommended that those intending to achieve this unit standard should be in Law Enforcement Agencies.
SPECIFIC OUTCOMES AND ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
Specific Outcome 1:
Gather information from the people involved in traffic accidents.
Assessment Criteria 1:
1.1
Understand the purpose for taking statements.
1.2
Know how to question.
1.3
Understand the subject matter of statements and interviews.
1.4
Define interrogation.
1.5
Understand the responsibilities of an interrogator.
Specific Outcome 2:
Gather evidence from the road.
Assessment Criteria 2:
2.1 Know how to record information.
2.2 Understand the effects of an accidents on the road.
2.3 Define and identify the different types of skid marks.
2.4 Understand the variety of skid marks.
2.5 Understand the life of skid marks.
2.6 Define the characteristics of skid marks.
2.7 Understand unequal skid marks.
2.8 Define tire over deflection.
2.9 Define and identify collision scrubs.
2.10 Define and identify broadside skid marks.
2.11 Define and identify after collision skid marks.
2.12 Define and identify impending skid marks.
2.13 Accurately record observations.
2.14 Define and identify yaw marks.
2.15 Understand the variety of yaw marks and there life.
2.16 Define the characteristics of yaw marks.
2.17 Observation and measuring of yaw marks.
2.18 Define and identify acceleration scuffs.
2.19 Define and identify flat tire marks.
2.20 Define and identify imprints.
2.21 Define and identify road scars.
2.22 Define the characteristics of road scars.
2.23 Define and identify types of debris.
2.24 Define and identify damage objects.
2.25 Understand the meaning of the marks.
Specific Outcome 3:
Take photographs from the accident scene, vehicles and fixed objects involved, including the physical evidence.
Assessment Criteria 3:
3.1 Understand why photographs are needed.
3.2 Understand the credibility of photographs.
3.3 Understand misused photographs.
3.4 Know when to take photographs.
3.5 Know what to photograph.
Range: Photographs of the accident scene, of marks on the roadway, of vehicle damage and storytelling photographs.
3.6 Understand different photographic equipment.
3.7 Identification and description of photographs.
Specific Outcome 4:
Take accurate measurements of the accident scene in order to draw a plan of the accident scene.
Assessment Criteria 4:
4.1 Define the 3 ways to record an accident scene.
4.2 Take accurate measurements and draw diagrams.
Range: equipment required, reasons to measure, what to measure, when to measure, marking the scene, ways to measure, tape, rolling wheel, measuring short distances, errors in measuring, how to record measurements.
4.3 Define the different types of measurements.
4.4 Drawing of field sketch.
Range: field sketch procedure, accuracy.
4.5 Measuring curves.
Specific Outcome 5:
The mechanically inspection of the vehicles involved in the accident.
Assessment Criteria 5:
5.1 Understanding Newton’s laws of motion.
5.2 Understanding the difference between contact damage and induced damage.
5.3 Be able to classify vehicle damage.
5.4 Understanding vehicle dynamics.
Range: First contact, Maximum Engagement and Separation.
Specific Outcome 6:
The examination of lamps to determine if the lamps were on or not prior to the accident.
Assessment Criteria 6:
6.1 Be able to describe different lamps.
6.2 Know how to remove and handle lamps.
6.3 Be able to identify lamp damage caused by the collision.
Range: Hot shock, cold shock, hot break, false hot break and cold break.
6.4 Understand the effect of weather on open filaments.
6.5 Be able to examine sealed beams.
Specific Outcome 7:
The examination of tyres and tire safety.
Assessment Criteria 7:
7.1 Understand the role of the pneumatic tyre in vehicle control.
7.2 Understand road adhesion.
7.3 Understand skidding and aquaplaning.
7.4 Be able to list the effects of incorrect tyre fitment.
7.5 Be able to identify the effects of tyre failures.
7.6 Understand tyre bursting.
7.7 Understand the cause of tyre failures.
7.8 Understand tyre bursting.
7.9 Understand the influence of tire design.
7.10 Understanding different braking systems.
7.11 Be able to negative claims that brakes failed.
Range: Observations at scene, spongy brake pedal, brake pedal to the floor.
7.12 Understand servo assistance.
7.13 Understand steering mechanisms.
7.14 Understand tyre components.
7.15 Understand tyre construction.
7.16 Identify major tyre components:
Range: Beads, casing, belts, tread, sidewall rubber, inner liner, tyre cords.
Specific Outcome 8:
Be able to determine basic speed estimates and reaction time from skid marks.
Assessment Criteria 8:
8.1 Be able to convert km/h to m/s.
8.2 Understand reaction-time.
8.3 Be able to determine velocity and time from skid marks.
SPECIAL NOTES:
Critical Cross-field Outcomes:
1. Identify and solve problems.
2. Work effectively with others as a member of a team, group, organization and community.
3. Organize and manage oneself and one’s activities responsibly and effectively.
4. Collect, organize and critically evaluate information.
5. Communicate effectively using a visual, mathematical and language skills in modes of oral, written and computer presentations.
6. Use science and technology effectively and critically (showing responsibility towards the environment and health of others.
7. Demonstrate an understanding of the world as a set of related systems.
8. Contribute to the full personal development of each learner and the social and economic development of society at large, by making it the underlying intention of any program of learning to make an individual aware of the importance of:
•Reflecting on exploring a variety of strategies to learn more effectively.
•Participating as responsible citizens in the life of local, national and global communities.
•Being culturally and aesthetically sensitive across a range of social contexts.
•Exploring education and career opportunities and
•Developing entrepreneurial opportunities.
Embedded Knowledge:
Grade 12
10. Assessing methods: Tests on each section of work. End of the week
written test. Practical test to be completed at end of 3 months after week one and after week two of course.
11. Methods of presentation: Lecturing in classroom using Data Projector. Practical drawing field sckets of accident scene
and in photography. Videos and video clips.
The next level is: The Vehicle Dynamics and Driving Dynamics course, NQF level 6, 15 credits, is for people in different Law Enforcement Agencies as well as Assessors in the Private Sector that investigates serious traffic accidents and take them to the next level, namely Vehicle Dynamics and Driving Dynamics.
The final course in accident investigation is Accident Reconstruction and Cause Analysis Course, NQF level 6, 20 credits.
Johan Joubert – Manager: Accident Analysis Division
Traffic Management Technologies
Operational Head Office
Unit 9, Canal Edge 3
off Carl Cronje Drive
Tyger Waterfront
Bellville
Mobile: 082 650 9620
TMT Ops Telephone: 021-914 4380
TMT Ops Fax: 021-914 4384