Course

Course Summary

Credit Type:

Course

ACE ID:

VSPA-0016

Organization's ID:

VSPA-0016

Organization:

Virginia State Police Academy

Location:

Classroom-based

Length:

2 weeks and 80 hours

Dates Offered:

Credit Recommendation & Competencies

Level	Credits (SH)	Subject
Lower-Division Baccalaureate	3	Criminalistics
Lower-Division Baccalaureate	1	Lab

Description

Objective:

Traffic Crash Reconstruction builds upon IPTM’s Advanced Traffic Crash Investigation course by assisting you further in understanding vehicle dynamics. You will take part in a more intense study of time/distance calculations, two-dimensional momentum and impact speed calculations using momentum equations. This program will help the student to understand derivation and origin of the commonly used speed formulas, speed of vehicles at impact using conservation of linear momentum, and behavior of vehicles in a collision using Newton’s three laws of motion. Discussions of commercial vehicle and motorcycle dynamics in collisions and the determination of direction of travel, initial contact and position of vehicles on the roadway will be discussed.

Learning Outcomes:

investigate and reconstruct motor vehicle crashes.
determine possible violations of law.
process crash scenes and identify evidence.
document the crash, and interview and interrogate involved parties.
solve for speeds of the involved vehicles and when appropriate analyze the crash using time and distance calculations.
utilize related techniques and in compliance with the case law and constitutional requirements, they will be able to identify the appropriate traffic/criminal charges stemming from the related event.

General Topics:

Review of Fundamentals of Crash Investigation
General airborne equations
Pedestrian Crash Investigation Conservation of momentum both vector and algebraic solutions
Time and distance equations and analysis