Crash Investigation

CASR's program of at-scene crash investigation distinguishes it from other road safety research groups in Australia and from many overseas. CASR crash investigators attend the scene of a road crash when an ambulance is called. One member of the team photographs the crash scene and marks the final positions of the vehicles, while another investigator identifies the people involved in the crash, including those transported to hospital by ambulance, and attempts to speak with any witnesses to the crash.

Detailed photographs and measurements are taken of relevant damage to the vehicles, and the site is surveyed and a scale plan prepared. Later, information is obtained on the injuries sustained, and interviews conducted with those crash participants and witnesses who are willing to be interviewed.

The crash and the resulting injuries are reviewed at regular CASR meetings, and relevant factors are identified. The crash history of the site is examined and compared with findings from the case review. About 100 casualty road crashes are investigated in this manner each year and the Centre is currently investigating rural crashes that occur outside the metropolitan area and up to 100 km from Adelaide.

Regular presentations are made to regional managers and senior engineers at the South Australian Department for Transport, Energy and Infrastructure on matters arising from the investigations that are relevant to the safety of particular locations and to the safety of the road and traffic system generally.

Our at-scene, in-depth approach yields a wide range of detailed information that can be gathered in no other way. Two studies by the Centre on travelling speed and the risk of crash involvement were feasible because we could collect the data needed to calculate speeds at the scene of the crash. We can obtain a much clearer understanding of road crashes than is possible from the very limited information in routine police reports.